Another one from our friends at the American Hot Rod Foundation: Photo of the Day Friday, February 6th 2026 As we continue to celebrate the incredible life of our recently departed friend, Ed Iskenderian, we thought we’d share this rare photo with his fans and friends that we feel shows Isky’s spirit as we’ll always remember it. This never before seen image was captured by the late Al Moss at the Davis Motor Car Company test track in Van Nuys, California. The year was 1948 and company owner and promoter Gary Davis was struggling to secure financing and interest in his new, three-wheeled car of the future. After two years of development and marketing, it was beginning to look as though it might not be “The car America was asking for”, after all. As a last-ditch effort to try and make a splash in the press, Davis decided to put the word out to the Los Angeles car community that his new creation could not be beaten for speed and agility and invited any and all enthusiasts to bring their cars to his company test track where he’d prove his claim. Davis got more than he bargained for, as word spread far and wide and his plan for an afternoon series of timed sessions quickly turned into a two day event. Many notable cars and owners turned up to take on the challenge, including Al Moss, Tommy Lee, John Edgar and a young Phil Hill. Cars in attendance included MG-TCs, Bugatti, Delage, and even the original Baldwin / Payne sports special, driven by its owner, Phil Payne, who would ultimately post fastest time of the event. What Gary Davis couldn’t have predicted was the fact that his challenge reached the hot rod community, as three flathead Ford powered roadsters arrived on the first day of the compe***ion before sun up- Jim Khougaz in his channeled ’32 roadster, Jon Athan with his ’29 on deuce rails (seen in the background of this image), and Ed Iskenderian piloting his T-bodied roadster with Maxi OHV equipped Ford V8. In this photo we see company owner Gary Davis in the early morning hours starting Isky from the line as he sets out, headlights ablaze, to establish a fast time on the Davis test track. Although we don’t know what kind of time Isky posted during the event, we can see that he is literally bursting with excitement from behind his cut down windshield to race out on to that track and see if his roadster can “really go!” The pure joy and enthusiasm seen here on his face is exactly what we’ll remember about him and we're forever indebted to the late Al Moss for capturing this beautiful little moment. Race on, Ed “Isky” Iskenderian. ©AHRF . . . NOTE: Image from the Alan Moss Collection (via Lynda McEvoy)
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