Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 1954 A.J.S. E-95 “Porcupine”

One of only four E-95’s created, the A.J.S. E-95 is a modified version of the A.J.S. E-90 horizontal twin motor, and was called the porcupine because of the spiky cooling fins protruding from the cylinder heads.

Originally designed to be supercharged, those plans had to be scrapped when the FIM banned supercharging in 1946. Despite its reputation for not living up to its hype, a finished Porcupine is valued somewhere north of a $250,000. Pictures and more after the jump.

The E-95 was on of the last works entries for the Tourist Trophy races in 1954, and can therefore be considered as one of the last (if not the last) true British factory involvements in Grand Prix racing. It features two separate cylinder heads, a double-cradle frame, and the Mk 2 version was made more streamline for racing, although it never had a proper fairing.