Client Spotlight- Bob Allen Ford
Client Success Story
All Fords are created equal; it’s the dealer – and its banking partnerships – that make the difference
For over 65 years, Bob Allen Ford has been a cornerstone of the Kansas City automotive dealership community, blending innovation and excellence with a family-owned tradition.
While the car business has changed significantly over the years, the Bob Allen Ford commitment to relationships, service and continuous improvement has not. The dealership is still guided by its signature motto coined by co-founder Bob Hewlett: “All Fords are created equal. It’s the dealer that makes the difference.”
Brad Hewlett, Bob’s son and now Dealer Principal, oversees operations at Bob Allen Ford Overland Park and is a partner in the Ottawa location and City Rent A Truck, a truck rental company with locations across the country.
Hewlett’s tenure at the company began humbly—washing cars and working as a service porter before advancing through nearly every role in the business. Over the last 10 years, Hewlett has led the dealership through numerous expansions, including purchasing another dealership, buying real estate and constructing new facilities.
“Running a business like ours is an incredibly rewarding challenge,” said Hewlett. “We enjoy creating opportunities and a successful work environment for our employees and their families, but it all adds financial complexity and responsibility, and that’s where having a great banking partner like Country Club Bank makes all the difference.”
The relationship goes back decades but grew substantially about eight years ago when the Bank financed Bob Allen Ford’s acquisition of another Ford dealership in Ottawa. Country Club Bank provided loans for real estate, equipment and operating capital, providing a solid foundation for the dealership’s transition and growth.
More recently, Country Club Bank has been instrumental in financing expansion projects near the dealership’s Overland Park location. These include a $5 million, 15,000-square-foot Fleet Service Center designed to handle larger trucks and vans and a state-of-the-art, 14-bay Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center for routine maintenance, repair and car washing. Together, these initiatives represent a total investment of approximately $15 million.
Construction projects often have unforeseen challenges and change orders that can postpone progress or require unexpected out-of-pocket payments. The Bob Allen Ford expansion projects were no exception, as significant change orders required new financing terms.
“The team at Country Club Bank went above and beyond to help us navigate this situation,” Hewlett said. “Rather than requiring immediate payment, they worked with us to spread the costs over many months, giving us the flexibility to preserve operating capital and still meet our financing obligations.”
This willingness to adapt and find creative solutions highlights what Hewlett values most in the partnership: open communication and mutual respect.
“In any great relationship, it’s about give and take. You have to be willing to negotiate and work together, and that’s exactly what we’ve found with Country Club Bank,” Hewlett said.
Bob Allen Ford and Country Club Bank share more than just a business relationship—they share values rooted in family, community and growth. Both organizations are multi-generational, Kansas City-based businesses with deep ties to the area.
“We’ve known and respected the Thompson family for years,” Hewlett said. “And their team, led by Dan Teahan, has been a pleasure to work with.”
The Bob Allen Ford story continues to evolve. Brad Hewlett’s sons have joined him in the business. Business partner John Wiegers has also had his daughters join the business, positioning the dealership for ongoing growth and expansion. Hewlett said his most important job now is to make sure the values and partnerships created by him and his father and the Wiegers family are transferred to the next generation.
“We’ve built an enduring business by staying focused on what matters—our people, customers and community, and we can never lose sight of that,” Hewlett said. “Country Club Bank has been an important partner not only as a provider of capital but also in their alignment of values, and we’re grateful for their support.”