Parting Shot
InTheGarageMedia.com
The Isky tribute roadster; while looking a great deal like the original, it is an original in its own right. Job well done by Alex Taylor of Hot Rod Garage and Dennis Taylor of Hot Rods by Dennis Taylor.By The Author & Courtesy of the Greg Sharp Collection
ne thing is for sure, our industry has its share of personalities with each having an endearing character trait that makes them easily and immediately recognizable. Many find themselves familiar with the nickname “Isky,” a stand-in for the moniker Ed Iskenderian of Isky Racing Cams fame. As famous as our centenarian hot rodding friend is, his highboy, a turtledeck ’23 Ford roadster, often called the original hot rod, may be more famous. But all of us who know Isky and know his famous call out, “Hiya, pal!” will always chuckle a bit.
But I am getting ahead. On these pages, there are appealing photos of the original ’23 roadster and alongside are the engaging photos of the Isky tribute roadster. The Isky tribute ’23 Ford roadster came from a conversation between Isky COO Nolan Jamora, Alex Taylor of Hot Rod Garage, and Dennis Taylor of Hot Rods by Dennis Taylor. They were looking for a “canvas” to celebrate the 75th year of Isky Racing Cams. After giving many potential hot rods the “once over” it was Dennis who came up with the idea to build an Isky tribute roadster.
From this point the build was undertaken by Hot Rods by Dennis Taylor and within eight months the ’23 Ford Isky tribute roadster was complete and debuted at the 2023 SEMA Show in the Iskenderian booth. It was Dennis having spent time at the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed, where the original Isky roadster currently resides, that he did his homework on what was needed for the build, and at this point the decision was made on just what would be built. Dennis realized that the Isky tribute roadster needed to be a “tribute” and not an exact copy or close recreation.
Dennis built the tribute roadster from scratch but made sure to include a few iconic touches, such as the one-of-a-kind script signature valve covers. The covers were made by Nick Taylor at Nickky Bobby Inc., which now rests on the Ford Godzilla V-8 that also features Holley components. Added to the build is an XS Power battery and Pro Glass for the flat windshield. Interestingly Dennis looked to Speedway Motors for both historical information as well as a number of the parts. Speedway Motors’ own Joe McCollough added his knowledge and expertise to help. Lastly, it was David Freiburger who ponied up the heretofore unobtanium rearend. Once this was at hand the build began.
No question that at first glance you believe you are looking at the old Isky roadster, perhaps a bit shinier, but quickly you realize this is a modern-day representation with changes one would make today. We like hot rods with history but must also admit we like hot rods that recognize history and pay homage.
What can we say? When you are the original you are the bar for the rest. Isky’s original ’23 Ford roadster with its turtledeck, Essex chassis, and compilation of Pontiac and Auburn parts truly is one of a kind.
This photo was taken back in the ’70s and shows Isky with his roadster but also at the helm of a business that was up and running, consuming all his waking hours. The roadster saw little attention or driving after this point.
While there is an immediate family identity between the original roadster and the new roadster interiors, nothing beats the original Auburn gauge panel and gauges coupe with a banjo steering wheel.
The tribute roadster features Stewart-Warner gauges with a reproduction Auburn panel featuring engine turning. The replica banjo wheel is from Grant. The tach is column mounted on the original roadster and dash mounted on tribute roadster.
Isky’s original roadster ran a Ford Model B four-cylinder engine running a Rajo head with distinctive headers and side pipes. A vintage Edelbrock intake runs a trio of Stromberg carbs.
John Athan, a friend of Isky and former roadster owner, designed the cursive lettering hand engraved into the one-of-a-kind cast-aluminum valve covers.
For the Isky tribute roadster, a Ford Performance crate motor—the Godzilla big-block V-8—was run complete with a stack fuel injection system from InnoV8 Race Engines that works with a Holley Terminator ECU.
Dennis was the one responsible for casting the one-of-a-kind valve covers complete with the cursive “Iskenderian” name imprinted. Nick Taylor of Nickky Bobby Inc. came up with the adapters that allowed the special valve covers to be used with the Ford V-8.