A 63-year-old businessman inspired by the heroism of firefighters during 9/11 has chosen to honor them by amassing a $1million collection of 450 firetrucks.

Andrew Leider started purchasing old fire trucks 13 years ago after working with firefighters during the terrorist attack.

His collection is now so large it takes up space in three warehouses in New York and Pennsylvania.

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Andrew Leider (pictured) has amassed a massive collection of 450 fire trucks over the past 13 years

Mr Leider fills up one of his trucks at a gas station in Circleville, New York. Many of the vehicles still work

Mr Leider pictured with his 1936 Ahrens-Fox Fire Truck from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The vehicle is one of the rarest in his collection and considered the 'Rolls Royce' of fire trucks

One of Mr Leider's classic fire trucks sits next to a vehicle at a gas station during one of his joy rides

Mr Leider said: 'I could drink, I could gamble, have planes, what have you - but this is a benign hobby.

'I worked with the firefighters on September 11 and I greatly appreciated their heroism and I felt that they should be honored.

'I purchased one antique firetruck in their memory, and purchased a second a few months later - it became an addiction. Each one is a work of industrial art.'

Mr Leider sources the trucks from fire departments around the United States and while some were bought at scrap value, others cost tens of thousands of dollars.

His collection is so vast it includes trucks that date back to the First World War.

Mr Leider said: 'The Ahren's Fox is the rarest of trucks - it's considered the Rolls-Royce of trucks.

'I also have a 1940 Maxim ladder, which is one of two built before World War Two - the only one ever built for the city of New York.'

Some of the vehicles are road worthy, and Mr Leider occasionally takes them out for a spin, including stopping at gas stations to refill.

'It's a lot of fun to drive them, and more fun to see other people looking at them and appreciating them.'

He now plans to share his trucks with the world by setting up museums in New York and Pennsylvania.

Mr Leider now plans to share his trucks with the world by setting up museums in New York and Pennsylvania