I was at the Long Beach swapmeet last month and I see an old guy looking at my stuff...I thought, he looks familiar...then his buddy says "Hey Ed, look at this". I ask..."Are you Ed Iskendarian?" And he was...I thought to myself..this guy is over 90 and he is walking a swapmeet? I was at the BACK of the swapmeet too...not the entrance! Anyway..we shake hands and take a picture or two..he couldnt have been nicer. Later I kicked myself because I didnt have him sign something for me. Yesterday I had my chance...was selling again at the same swapmeet...same spot...and there he was again! A swapmeet regular at 90+ I guess the car bug is a lifetime affliction...this time I had him sign some stuff! Took apart a clock I was trying to sell, had him sign the face and now its a keeper...the old mag too. He was very patient while I fiddled with the clock... What an American hero that guy is and needless to say a hot rod icon... Also at a swapmeet last month...got this old trophy that says Rickshaws on the bottom...must have been an award at a custom car show...I just love this stuff!
Did get a picture of him from the last swapmeet...unfortunately I am in it..lol...will try to post it but its on my phone and I am a little slow with my blackberry...
The apple does not fall far from the Isky tree. Ed's son Richard is just as much a gentleman and great to do business with. Richard is the president of Isky Racing Cams.
I have never heard of one of the first generation hotrodders being a anything but kind to anybody. Same goes for the old bluesman. Perhaps parents just emphasized manners more than they do now.
I met him at a car club party at the NHRA Museum, and he gladly signed my ammo box, for the Boeing Bomber Bike. Heck of a nice guy and loved to talk about anything from Hot Rod, to health..
The Jalopy Journal
