08/25/2026
It's all about the cars! Jim Allen Sr has owned over 70 cars in his life, 99% of those have been Fords. He has owned a different make or two but his love is the old Fords that styled an era of class with muscle. No one defines classic more that Jim "The Ford Man" Allen.
His first car was a 1963 Ford convertible. He happened to be at a function in Loveland when he saw this beautiful young lady named Cathy. She was supposed to meet another young man but Jim swept her off her feet by taking her for a long ride with the top down on the convertible. They rode around for hours getting to know each other. That ride led to them a marriage of 63 years.
Cathy supported Jim in every car purchase and everything he did in life. He did a lot of things from restoring old cars, becoming a township Trustee, coordinating car shows, referring basketball games, coordinating festivals and parades to currently leading a church song group. He was also a part time police constable back in the early 70's while he worked his full time job as a local truck driver.
He was born and raised in Goshen, in a family of 10 children. Jim was the second child and the first of seven boys. Their father was in construction and built the Land O'Goshen grocery store. When his father came to get him out of school he knew he would be going to help him.
Their first home was built by his father on Gaynor Road. As the family grew they moved to Hillstation Road by the railroad tracks. Kenny, his two year old baby brother got out and was on the train tracks just when a train was coming through. Their mother had told the children to lay between the tracks if they got caught by a train. Low and behold he knew exactly what to do and come out without even a scratch after the train traveled over him.
Jim himself has 9 lives. He has had a stick fall in his throat, fell under a car and one of his brothers dropped the farm plows on his head. He came close to having one of his lives scared right out of him one night on patrol. He was dispatched to an alarm at the Bronze Bell in the early morning hours. After talking to the owner he went in to investigate if there was someone in the building. With his flashlight and gun drawn he opened a closet in the basement to have a mannequin come falling out on him.
The 1970's was a time when CB (citizen band) radios were popular to talk with people all over at the same time. The social media of the day! Jim was the President of a local CB club called the Jaw Jammers. He was called Mr. O for Mr. Official.
In the 1980's he and Bob Hauserman were instrumental in organizing festivals behind the Marr Primary and Cook Elementary. He also ran for the first time as Township Trustee and won then served a couple different times through the years until 2001. He said serving had its good times and bad times but he doesn't regret it.
The first car that Jim restored was a 1965 Mustang. Through the years he restored many and sold five to a man in Hungary. He said it was interesting to see the car tractor trailer to sit on his small street and load the cars up. Later he sold a 1959 Edsel to a man in New Zealand.
A few of his cars has been in every parade in Goshen chauffeuring the Grand Marshall's. One year he drove Jerry Springer in the parade. The cars are often requested to be used for special photos and weddings. To get an up close look at one of his beautiful cars he is always the first car to arrive at the local cruise in at the Mulberry Kroger on Friday nights.
Goshen Township Fire Department Firefighters Union has the first ambulance that Goshen purchased from Green Hills Fire Department, a 1957 Ford Wagon. After sitting in storage for many years Jim bought the car and had it totally restored back to its original color.
A few years ago a devastating fire happened in his garage destroying all of his vehicles except the ones stored offsite. The fire started from a faulty battery wire in a golf cart. Today he has a new building for the cars and he has purchased a few more keeping his passion alive. When you see him at a cruise in or going down the street give him a wave, hello or honk your horn.
Jim "The Ford Man" Allen has truly lived a full life and he said he couldn't have done it without the support of his loving beautiful wife Cathy. He gives all gratitude to her support. As you will see in one of the pictures he has a car named Cathy's Clown for his late wife. If you know Jim, you know he is full of fun, humor and energy. The love of his boys and the township keep him going.
