‘70 Mercedes Given to Many Mansions

An Ojai man has donated his 27-year-old Mercedes-Benz to Many Mansions, a Thousand Oaks agency, to raise money for affordable housing projects.

Ray Treder, 63, said he donated his green 1970 four-door sedan because he is a strong supporter of affordable housing and decided that he would never find the time to restore it.

“I’m very much into cars,” he said. “I enjoyed it for years and I had a real difficulty parting with it. My children grew up in the back seat of that car.”

Treder, a civil engineer for the city of Simi Valley, said he has not driven the car regularly for years.

It is in good condition for its age and continues to run, he said. The odometer broke more than a decade ago when the car had already traveled 200,000 miles, Treder said.

Ron Cuff, a Many Mansions board member, said he hopes that the car will generate at least $1,900 when it is auctioned off next month.

Two vending machines, donated last summer by an area businessman, will also be auctioned off. No minimum bids have been placed on the equipment.

The Mercedes is the 20th vehicle donated to Many Mansions since it began its auto donation program a year ago.

So far, auctioning the vehicles has raised nearly $5,000 toward the purchase and renovation of affordable housing units, Cuff said.

“I was touched by this particular donation,” he said. “It was obvious the vehicle had sentimental value to him.”

The auction will be part of Many Mansions’ second annual Founder’s Award event, scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks.

For information, call 496-4948.