That was in 1969, when Corona first opened his service station at the intersection of N. De Anza Boulevard and Homestead Road in Cupertino.

Thirty-six years later, with gas now more than $2 per gallon, Corona is moving on.

The Almaden resident retires Feb. 1 from his business, Carlos' Auto Service, that not only serviced vehicles, but also served as a local institution.

"He's part of the community, and is one of the last independent gas station owners," said Greg Kevin, a Sunnyvale public safety officer.

"He was also great role model and taught me a strong work ethic," says Kevin, who worked for Corona while attending Fremont High School in the late 1970s.

Such hard work is evident in Corona's long success during a time when the number of independent service station owners has dwindled.

He began the business at age 21 in May 1969, after working at another service station on Maude Avenue in Sunnyvale. At the time, the corner at N. De Anza and Homestead was an empty lot, and he secured a gas station franchise from Mobil Oil (he later lost his lease with Mobil and switched to a repairs-only operation).

"Ninety-five percent of what is here now is new," he says, while noting the 280 and 85 highways did not exist then. "[N. De Anza Boulevard] was half the width, I could stand out in the middle of the street and see Fremont High School."

Along with another gas station across the street, there were orchards along N. De Anza and a cannery off Homestead on a site that is now home to an apartment complex.

In addition to watching the changing landscape, Corona has also weathered changing fortunes in the oil business over the last three decades.

During gas shortages in 1973, for instance, cars began lining up at 5 a.m. to buy gas. Corona had to calculate how many customers he could serve and then place a "last car for gas" sign on the last vehicle he could serve. He also carried a gun to dissuade any overly aggressive customers.

In another gas crisis in 1979, Corona and his crew had to pump gas for 36 hours straight after Mobil sent him more gas than his small tanks could accommodate.

Along the way, the largely self-taught Corona has employed many of his family members (his daughter continues to work as his bookkeeper), helped mentor local students and cultivated relationships with his customers, dating back to when some of his customers helped baby-sit his infant son.

"I have enjoyed being able to grow with the community, which makes it hard to leave because so many people have come through," he says.

"I have never advertised, all of my business has been word of mouth. Honesty, dependability; fairness and integrity, that's what I have built my business on."

He hopes that tradition continues with the sale of his business to another area mechanic.

Although Corona hopes to continue to work as a mechanic, he doesn't want to do so full time. "It's hard work physically, and it starts to take its toll," he says of the job he worked at for more than 60 hours a week, six and seven days a week.

"The change is good," Corona says. "I have had a good run and owe the community many thanks."