The C11 was introduced in 1939, shortly before the outbreak of World War 2. A limited number were built to a military specification and used mainly for training purposes. Civilian production began again in 1946, the machines being much the same as the pre-war models except that that the oil tank was now separately mounted on the saddle down tube, rather than a compartment in the petrol tank. Telescopic forks replaced the old girder type later in 1946, a deluxe model with blue panels on the petrol tank and wheel rims followed in 1947/8, but still with the rigid rear frame and three speed gearbox. 1951 saw the introduction of plunger rear suspension, a four speed gearbox option for the deluxe came in 1952, while 1953 brought the famous maroon or "Devon Red" paintwork with chrome side panels and new, larger badges to the petrol tank. The rear number plate was now boxed in with a Lucas "diacon" stop and tail lamp. An alternator replaced the dynamo in 1955, at the same time the contact breakers were moved out of the car-type distributor into a housing cast into the right hand engine case, changes were also made to the shape of the petrol tank. The model now became the C11G, the G possibly denoting generator. The C11G continued in production until 1957 when the swing arm framed C12 was introduced.
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