Few dealerships have histories that span a full century. Even fewer involve a decades-long, multi-generational relationship with a single auto manufacturer. But that’s what distinguishes Towne Ford in Redwood City, Calif., and the Kopf family that owns it. It’s a story that weaves a Model T dealership in California together with Ford assembly plants in both South America and Asia — and with a brand-new automotive gallery that’s about to open its doors this year.
Towne Ford reaches its 100th anniversary in 2026 with those threads running through its story. Founded in 1926 by brothers Frank, Pete and Jerry Towne, the dealership later passed to the Kopf family, whose relationship with Ford Motor Co. began nearly a decade before Towne Ford opened.
Dealer principal Benjamin “Ben” Kopf III sees longevity as the cumulative result of brand loyalty, conservative management, hard work and an enduring connection to employees and customers.
“We’re lucky to have a line like Ford because they make such good cars,” Ben says. “Without that, success is impossible. But even with that, bad decisions can take you down a bad path.”
One Family’s Ford Story
The Kopf family’s relationship with Ford began with Ben’s grandfather, Benjamin Kopf Sr., an Argentinian who joined Ford in Buenos Aires around1917, according to his grandson. His career soon became international in scope, when he transferred to Ford operations in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1920, then on to Montevideo, Uruguay, and Santiago, Chile, eventually overseeing assembly operations across South America.
In 1925, Ford tapped him to lead its business in Japan as president of Ford of Japan and to oversee operations in all Southeast Asia. Faced with a new market, he taught himself Japanese in a year, according to his grandson. The Yokohama plant initially assembled Model Ts, followed by Model As beginning in 1928.
Ben recalls an interesting anecdote from those days. “I guess my grandfather was a lousy driver,” he says. “He knocked the mayor of Yokohama off his bicycle with a car — so he was banned from driving in Yokohama.”
Benjamin Sr. remained in Japan as World War II began and was placed under house arrest. He returned to the United States in a prisoner exchange in 1943. According to family lore, Henry Ford and Henry Ford II met him at the dock in New York. “They thanked him for his time and basically asked him what he wanted to do moving forward,” Ben says, noting that Benjamin Sr. took over Ford and Ford Tractor in Mexico.
A decidedly international upbringing helped to shape Benjamin Kopf Jr., Ben’s father. Born in Uruguay and raised partly in Japan, he spoke Japanese, English, Spanish and Tagalog. When he was about 10 years old, he traveled alone by steamship to attend the Atascadero Boys School in California, returning home by ship during summer breaks. After that he attended the Menlo School in California.
Automobiles were always part of Benjamin Jr.’s life — he bought an old Model T before he was legally old enough to drive — and even played a role in meeting his future bride. He drove a black 1940 Mercury convertible with a red leather interior while attending Stanford University — which he got serviced at Towne Ford. One day in 1941, he stopped near the campus entrance to offer a ride to another student. That woman eventually became his wife.
“My father pulled over, picked her up and drove her into campus, and that's how my parents met,” Ben says.
For their parents’ 50th anniversary, Ben’s brother Robert found another 1940 Mercury convertible in the Rockefeller estate, and his dealership restored it so it could be presented at the St. Francis Yacht Club. The license plate read “MET HERE.” When Ben sounded the horn outside the club, his father recognized it before seeing the car.
From Salesman to Owner
After World War II and a period working at a Ford dealership in Mexico City, Benjamin Jr. moved to California’s Bay Area with a wife and young son. He had previously had his car serviced at Towne Ford and — after stopping by and mentioning that he was looking for work — was offered a sales position.
It became the start of a new chapter for the dealership. Benjamin Jr. gradually purchased shares as members of the Towne family retired, then bought out his remaining partner in the early 1970s.
Like his father, Ben was exposed to the automotive industry at a young age. At 10 or 11, he cleaned, polished and waxed cars in the detail department on weekends. By 12 or 13, he was helping in the shop, learning the era’s points-plugs-and-condensers tune-ups and rebuilding carburetors.
“I was very mechanically inclined, and cars and machinery were things that I fell in love with at a very early age,” he says.
Ben’s experience didn’t lead to an automatic job at the family dealership, however, since his father preferred that his sons establish themselves independently. Richard became an attorney and investment executive. Robert worked at several Ford dealerships and later bought Stanford Lincoln Mercury. Jamie worked through sales, finance and insurance, and management before buying his own dealership. Ben spent five years overseas and later worked in real estate development in the Washington, D.C. area.
“None of us ever worked with my father in the business,” Ben explains. “That was one of the rules.” When the elder Kopf was ready to step away, however, he offered his sons the opportunity to buy his shares. Ben took over management of Towne Ford in 2000, initially as general manager, and became dealer principal a few years later.
Ben says that Towne Ford’s success — as well as the resilience of his family — is based on several factors. “We were taught from a young age to be conservative, not to risk the farm, only to risk the excess,” he says, noting that he also carries forward one of his father’s favorite sayings: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”
Celebrating History with the Community
Towne Ford is commemorating its anniversary with a variety of events in 2026 — including partnering with local car clubs to offer a series of car exhibits, each devoted to different decades. An early-summer gathering, for example, featured roughly 20 vehicles from the 1920s and 1930s alongside the dealership’s monthly employee barbecue. Later events are showcasing cars of the 1940s and 1950s — including Thunderbirds — followed by 1960s and 1970s vehicles and Mustang clubs.
A major celebration in September is expected to bring together current and former employees along with city, county and state officials.
The dealership’s most lasting centennial project celebrates its relationship with the local community. The Kopf family is helping to fund the new three-level, 15,000-square-foot Taube Family Carriage House and Automobile Gallery at the San Mateo County History Museum. Slated to open by November 2026, it will be home to the Kopf Family Automobile Gallery, which will exhibit rotating vehicles from community collectors. A separate gallery will display 10 historic Brewster carriages, which were innovative vehicles in the days before the automobile.
“I happen to have vehicles from all the decades that we'll be able to put in the museum,” Ben explains. “I want to highlight Ford’s history on the peninsula.”
Ben still owns and drives his first vehicle, a 1931 Model A Deluxe Coupe with its original mohair interior. Yet when asked to name his favorite Ford, he chooses the Mustang, “Every kid that had a hot rod Mustang never forgets it.”
As Towne Ford moves into its second century, Ben summarizes his family’s lasting relationship with one of the world’s most prominent automakers, “The Ford connection is so ingrained in our family, I think it’s part of our DNA at this point.”
