Had a great email from Nicolas in Paris, France, with details of his 911 Carrera 3.2 Cabriolet. A 1987 example with the sought-after G50 transmission, it’s just passed 300,000 kilometres.

What I like about this picture is that Nicolas has done the maths and planned how best to celebrate his car’s anniversary. Zero the trip at 299,089 and run it on to 300k, when the trip will also show 911. He has not wimped out on the photo either, taking his chances on catching the reading at 91.1km/h on the open road. A small window of opportunity!

What an excellent job from the French contingent. Also excellent is Nicolas’ day job with GQ magazine, leading to the Carrera finding its way into magazine fashion shoots. This one for Ralph Lauren.

Nothing says style like an old 911. More than mere A-B transport, it has attitude and presence: it speaks of a philosophy. This well travelled dark blue Carrera Cabriolet on Teledial wheels is sublime. Rich in understated luxury, like a perfect Vanity Fair portrait*, age deepens its allure, reaching beyond beauty and into iconography.

I was biased towards soft-tops by my first 911. An SC Cabriolet in white, bought in the south of France, close to Montpelier. We flew in to Perpignan, stayed the night on a roof terrace in Cazedarnes and drove home through the mountains the following day, under the Millau Bridge (not yet built) and up through Paris, to Calais and home.

Nicolas’ 911 has covered many wonderful kilometres and no doubt has many more to cover. Much loved and enjoyed, it seems to have found the perfect owner. Salut, mon brave!

*One of my very favourite books is ‘Vanity Fair: The Portraits’. Discovered in the library at art college, I found more inspiration for my photography in that one book than any other. It’s not easy to find for a cheap price, but next time you are passing a library, seek it out and enjoy half an hour in its company. Some beautiful art is contained in those pages.