1954 AJS E95 “Porcupine”

The 1954 AJS 495cc E-95 Porcupine represents the final development of the most exotic, innovative, and graceful British Grand Prix racing motorcycle ever made. The Porcupine earned its nickname from the spiky finning of the cylinder heads on the original E90 model. That bike earned AJS a place in motorcycling history by winning the inaugural 500cc World Championship in 1949, ridden by Les Graham, who beat the four-cylinder Gileras that were later to dominate racing’s premier class.

This model first appeared at the 1952 Isle of Man TT with final development continuing under the genius of race shop head Jack Williams. As a works special only four E-95’s were ever produced. For team owner and AJS devotee Rob Iannucci: “it’s the Holy Grail of British motorcycles. It was conceived in the darkest days of the Second World War, and was created on limited budgets during the austerity of post-war Britain by dedicated men who were passionate about their craft. Yet they created a motorcycle which won the 500cc World Championship, and in my opinion was a truly beautiful mechanical object… It’s a two-wheeled work of art.”

Further reading:

• Act of faith

• History on wheels

• Return of the Porcupine

• 1954 AJS Porcupine