By Martin Port
2025 review by James Loveridge
It is quite possible that some members are familiar with Martin Port’s book “Trans Africa Land Rover” as it was published in 2022 and won the RAC Motoring Book of the Year Award for its category. Now it has been re-issued with previously unpublished photographs and additional content.
For those not familiar with the earlier version it tells the story of an Australian called Philip Kohler, who died in 2015, and has been re-written to commemorate the 65 years since he drove a Series 2 Land Rover across the Sahara Desert solo. However this 169 page, 11 inches by 9.5 inches, hardback book is not only about that epic trip which, thanks to Kohler’s meticulous preparation, seems to have been achieved without drama or other excitements, but also deals with other aspects of that interesting man’s life.
It talks about his determination to see the world. It covers his coming to England, and his time, starting in 1957 on a 3-year contract, working in Africa for the British Government’s Crown Agency For Overseas Governments as an Agricultural Supervisor. He had spent some time earlier at an agricultural college in Australia, on what seems to have been an attempt to compensate for the notoriously ill-fated Ground Nut scheme.
It seems that that he had already decided that it would be a nice idea to return to England by driving his Land Rover across the Sahara Desert, which, of course, he did, and that successfully achieved, back in England he looked for other employment. Somewhat by chance and due to previous acquaintances he had made on earlier trips, that ended up with him working in the movie business. He clearly had a talent for it, becoming quite a success as a Location Manager and meeting and working with, along the way, several Hollywood stars such as John Wayne, Elsa Martinelli, Hardy Kruger, William Holden and, whilst working on Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, getting very drunk with Harrison Ford.
The remainder of the book is about Philip Kohler’s Land Rover after Martin Port acquired it in 2016, in remarkably good condition considering its age and mileage covered, and detailing the work that has been done to it.
The book has been produced to Porter Press’s usual high standard though there is just one interesting misprint, unusual in a Porter book; in the caption to the top left photo on page 60 FORT Jesus is described as F0RD Jesus – is there a hidden message ? It is very well illustrated with over 300 photographs mostly taken by Kohler.
A very interesting read and, judging by current prices, good value.
Publisher: Porter Press International https://porterpress.co.uk/
Price: £35.00 plus postage.
Description: 160 pages, hardback published without a dust jacket, 240mm x 280mm. Over 300 images of period photographs and original documents.
ISBN: 978-1-913578-07-4
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