I own £40m car collection – 450 vehicles including the first and last Aston Martins ever

One of the UK’s most infamous classic car collectors owns over 450 models and more than 20 Aston Martin Lagonda’s. Rodger Dudding, owner of Studio 434, started collecting models in the late 1960s and has amassed a collection valued at over £40million since.

After his late wife started getting frustrated at the number of cars being stored at his house, Rodger planned to expand. He bought an old shed formerly used by the Potters Bar Transport Corporation that now houses 120 vehicles in his collection. However, Rodger has admitted his Studio 434 collection now amasses more than 450 models from brands and marques across the globe.

But, Rodger’s collection is perhaps best known for featuring 24 Aston Martin Lagondas, including the first and last examples ever made. The luxury four-door saloon was built by the brand between 1974 and 1990 with just 645 models built.

It means Rodger actually owns around 3.7% of the total production of Lagonda’s ever made. Alongside the iconic first and last editions, he also has the keys to a special Tickford edition, even fitted with a boomerang TV aerial on the boot.

Speaking recently to Below The Radar Cars, Rodger admitted the Lagonda collection had a special place in his heart.

He said: "Allegedly the largest collection of 'Wedge' Lagonda's in the world. I met William Towns, the designer of them, on multiple occasions and to my mind they are extreme.

"They are a unique motor vehicle, so I just bought one after another. Now in our collection, we are fortunate enough to have the very first one made and the very last one made of William Town’s 'Wedge' Lagonda’s

"I think they are just gorgeous, it’s an acquired taste really. I suppose it’s the origination of the design, of the concept, there’s nothing like it even to this day."

Rodger explains the first car he ever bought and fell in love with was an iconic Jensen Interceptor.

He picked the model up second-hand in 1968 and has added models from across the motoring spectrum ever since.

He has the keys to everything from a Citreon 2CV, Ford Capri, Jaguar XJs and Mercedes SL.

However, his number one favourite model is a plucky Morris Minor 803 owned by his father.

Rodger added: "I suppose being in a fortunate situation if I've seen something I like, I buy it.

"There’s no particular science, I have not gone out to collect any given series of motor vehicles, being a Rolls-Royce, Bentley or Ferrari. If I like something and I’m in a fortunate enough situation, I buy it."