Serving Our Community Since 1984

Hillside Automotive:  A 20^th Anniversary Success Story

The year 1984 was a landmark one for Dave & Zoie Carney. In January, their daughter Katie was born, in March they purchased a home, and on December 17, Dave launched Hillside Chevron at the corner of Hawthorne and Newton in Torrance.

Carney borrowed $30,000 in equity from his home for inventory and operating capital, chose a name for his new business and said good buy to 40-hour work weeks. “I was 30 years old at the time and had more energy than money,” reminisced Carney.

Carney recalls that the first year was rough and that the second year wasn’t much easier. He opened with just one mechanic, and he still remembers how happy he was on the day he hired a second mechanic, because that meant he would always have at least one mechanic on duty for his customers.

Fast forward five years to 1989. The oil companies phased out full-service at the gas pumps. Committed to customer service, Carney initiated “Senior Tuesday,” a program that offered seniors full-service at self-serve prices every Tuesday. Dave hired extra employees to pump gas for customers, wash windows, check fluids and tire pressure. 

Dave’s “Senior Tuesday” program, which is still in operation today, is open to all customers regardless of age. The program is so successful that it has become a business model in the industry. 

Business continued to grow and so did the family with the birth of son, Kevin. Dave added a third mechanic and a free car wash with every service or repair.  Hillside Chevron became one of the first gas stations to become a AAA-approved auto repair facility.

Fast-forward five years to 1994. There are now four “auto repair technicians”.  “Because of onboard computers, fuel injection and the level of sophistication required to diagnosis and repair today’s cars, our mechanics are now Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technicians,” said Carney. Hillside Chevron is known for offering its customers, dealer-quality automotive service at affordable prices.

Fast forward to the year 2000, Hillside Chevron won the “Service Business of the Year” award from the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. Two years later, short on space because of his growing business, Carney purchased the old 76 Service Station, located across the street on the southwest corner of Hawthorne and Newton.

He closed down the unprofitable gasoline portion of the business and with wife, Zoie’s help, remodeled the old station and opened Hillside Automotive, a beautiful, one-of-a-kind automotive repair center, complete with a staff of seven technicians and three service writers. Comfortable indoor and outdoor seating areas are featured along with freshly brewed coffee that most days is complemented by home baked goodies fresh from Zoie’s oven.

In January of 2003, with the business still growing, Dave needed more help, so Zoie quit her job as an Occupational Therapist at Little Company of Mary Hospital and joined the staff at Hillside Automotive. As a greeter and facilitator, Zoie’s soft touches are felt throughout every detail of the business.

Today, business has never been better and the Carney’s are thankful for their many blessings. “I am so fortunate to have been able to find a business that meets my personal needs and that I am passionate about, but most importantly, I am thrilled at having had the opportunity to create a family business,” stated Carney.

Hillside Automotive is located at 24467 Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance. Hours are 8:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday. Customers are invited to stop by at their convenience, or to call 373-7676, to make an appointment for automotive service or repair.

Dave Carney