To tell the life story of Ed “Isky” Iskenderian is to tell the history
of hot rodding in America. Ed was there from the very beginning. Ed’s
interest in automobiles, especially hot rods, came at a young age. Ed
had natural skills in metal working and machining that were developed in
high school. He wanted to further develop those skills, so he joined the
Air Corps to continue his education and flew with Air Transport Command.
By the time Ed mustered out of the service, the California hot rod scene
was in full bloom, with tens of thousands of vets who had the desire to
make cars go fast.
Isky: Ed Iskenderian and the History of Hot Rodding, tells the whole
story, from his pre-war Lake Muroc and car club activities, his service
in the military, starting a small business fabricating parts and making
cams in the back of a rented shop, and then selling cams to other
rodders. Ed was a gifted machinist, and he also had a natural knack for
promotion. He purchased an ad in the second issue of Hot Rod magazine,
sensing something big; his instincts, as always, were right. Not only
was he an early pioneer in the industry for print advertising and
catalogs, he was also among the first to understand the value of having
successful race cars using his cams in their engines and wearing his
decals on their fenders. The biggest names in the racing industry were
running Isky cams, and Ed made sure the world knew it.
Ed’s company name went on to become one of the household names in the
performance community. His continued success is an entertaining tale of
mingling with industry icons, insight into the business of hot rodding,
great stories of yesterday and today, and a life very well lived.
• First biography ever published on this industry icon
• This story is not only an autobiography, but also a history of hot
rodding
• Filled with unique vintage photos and stories of a bygone era
About the Author
Matt Stone is a freelance journalist, author, broadcaster, and former
Editor of Motor Trend Classic magazine. He has been a professional
automotive journalist/photographer since 1990. He has authored and
photographed ten automotive books and is a former member of SPEED/FOX
SPORTS television network’s Barrett-Jackson auction broadcast team. Matt
is also a judge at various Concours d’Elegance, and a member of the
LeMay-America’s Car Museum Steering Committee.
