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Marchal race & rally lights for BMWs


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A brief explanation of Marchal lights appropriate for 2002s

Marchal is a French manufacturer of high quality automobile lights founded in 1923.  From its inception Marchal was very active in motorsports, especially in the 1950s through the 1980s.   Marchal lights and sponsor decals can be seen on many winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rallye Monte Carlo.   There are many Marchal lights made during the 60s and 70s which are appropriate for BMW 2002s.  The lights are exclusively made in France.  Labels inside the housings give the exact week and year of production.  Model numbers are always molded into the glass, and usually ink-stamped or labeled inside the lights.  

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Marchal had seen great commercial and racing successes, mostly with Ferrari, in the 50s and 60s with their famous 'FANTASTIC' 660 model as shown above.  However, this design, with its distinctive raised center nipple, was looking a little old fashioned by the late 1960s.  Light bulb technology also changed dramatically with the introduction of IODE Quartz  H1, H2, and H3 bulbs.  In 1965 Marchal offered the 'new' H1 bulb in their 'old' Fantastic 660/760 (fog) & 662/762 (long distance) models.  Also in '65 the 610 and 612 designs were introduced.  

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Above is a page from a 1965 Marchal catalog introducing the new 610 & 612 models.  It also extolls the virtues of the new H1 bulb technology offered in their old 'Fantastic' 660/760 662/762 light range.  The bulbs were not called H1 yet, since  H2 and H3 bulbs had still to be invented.  Strangely, the new 610/612 did not make use of the new IODE H1 bulbs. Even as the 610/612 models were being rolled out, Marchal was already busy working on replacements.  A flood of new lights taking advantage of new bulb technology were introduced in the late 1960s.  Some lasted only a year or two in production, but other successful designs were manufactured for a decade. Today, all of these lights can continue to provide modern function and period-correct style for your BMW.

 

SMALL LIGHTS - 5.75 inch diameter

 

610 & 612  (5.75") clear or yellow

1965 - Sticking with the '600' theme Marchal released the the new 610 (fog) and 612 (spot).  These were the first polished stainless steel housings offered by Marchal ( as opposed to the previous use of chromed metal).  They were very slim.  This was achieved by applying the silvered reflector surface directly to the inside of the lamp housing.  A stainless band, joined at the bottom by a tiny bolt, held the glass lens, with a more subtle 'nipple', and the stainless body together.  This band design was copied by Cibié for use on their super-thin Cibié 45.   610 & 612s in good useable condition are very rare since the reflector coating tended to bubble and separate from the housing.  

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612 spot light.

 

710 & 712 (5.75") clear or yellow

1968 - Continuing with the use of polished stainless steel, instead of chromed metal, this was a successful new housing design that stayed in production in some form until the 1980s.  The band was gone, replaced by a metal trim ring that pressed into place, and is removed by prying with a flat screwdriver.  The flat glass was also new and the 'nipple' was gone, replace in the center by the words 'Starlux'.  Most importantly, the light was designed around using the new H1 IODE bulb.  710 is for fog, 712 denotes a spot (long distance) lens.   A new logo had been added into the glass as well; a modern and stylized version of the Marchal cat head. However, the twist-off H1 bulb holder was  over -engineered.

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710 fog and 712 spot light, note 'Starlux' script and the first appearance of the cat head logo.

 

810 812 & 819 (5.75") clear or yellow

1969/70 -  The stainless housing and push-on bezel remained, but the lens and bulb holder were completely new.  The nipple was back in the glass, this time topped by a gold anodized aluminum cat logo.  This is glued on to the glass, and often falls off due to heat.  The biggest improvement was the use of the compact H3 bulb, held in place by a simple and easy to use retaining clip. 

This model was used in 1975 on the Le Mans class-winning, Marchal-sponsored BMW 2002 of the Heidegger Racing Team.  H3 Bulbs are easy to find, inexpensive and as bright as 95 watts.  Use a 150mm soft vinyl cover.  Hard plastic covers were  introduced in  1975.   Later production housings are chromed plastic or black plastic.  810 (fog/cornering)  812 (spot or long range) 819 (driving).

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810 fog and 812 spot 

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819 'driving light', a combo of fog and spot light characteristics.  This was a new concept for Marchal and referred to rather fancifully as 'Grand Ambiance'.   

 

 

MEDIUM LIGHTS - 7 inch diameter

 

780 & 782 (7") clear or yellow

1968. A larger version of the 710 & 712 models.  Same complicated H1 bulb holder.   Yellow glass had the 'cat head' molded into the glass.  The clear lenses got an aluminum cat head stuck on. 

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782 spot light in yellow.   

 

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782 spot light in clear with aluminum cat head.

 

880, 882 & 889 (7") clear or yellow

1970.  Again, simply a larger version of 810, 812 or 819 models.  Uses the same H3 bulb with a simple and effective clip.  Stainless steel housings.   Uses 190mm soft covers.   Hard covers became an available option in 1975. 

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880 fog lights in clear glass, paired with hard covers made of slightly pliable hard plastic.

 

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882 spot light in yellow.  The black sleeve on the end of the wire covers a female bullet connector for use on your car's wiring.  

 

 

LARGE LIGHTS - 8 inch diameter

 

1968.  To compete with the enormous Cibié Super Oscar (8.5" diameter) Marchal introduced a range of large 8" lights.   The first design featured a very deep reflector and housing.  H1 bulbs were used.  Housings were painted metal.  Bezels were chrome.  Used a 200mm soft cover.

 

722/702 (8") clear or yellow long distance SPOT light

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Note H1 bulb holder.  This was soon to be replaced by H2 bulb holders, see below. 

 

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722/702 clear SPOT light.   Aluminum cat head.  Note the new H2 bulb holder which allowed for a shallower reflector and housing.  Painted housing, chrome bezel.     

 

720/700 (8") clear or yellow fog light

 

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720/700 FOG light with clear glass and aluminum cat head.  Painted housing and chrome bezel.  Factory wiring with male spade connector. 

 

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720/700 FOG light, yellow glass option. 

 

 

702 (8") clear or yellow SPOT light.

 

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709 (8") clear or yellow DRIVING (grand ambiance) light

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Clear 709 driving lights (grand ambiance).  H2 bulbs.  Marchal shield in center, no cat. 

 

 

900, 902, 909  (8") clear or yellow

Introduced about 1973.  By the 1980s some had black crinkle-painted metal housings and trim rings.   Bulbs are the H2 type.  Use a soft vinyl or (more common by the late 70s) hard plastic 200mm cover. 

 

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900 clear FOG light.  Aluminum cat, painted or chrome housing. H2 bulb.

 

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902 clear SPOT light, aluminum cat, painted or chrome housing. H2 bulb. 

 

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909 clear driving light.  Aluminum cat head, H2 bulbs. Painted or chrome housing. H2 bulb. 

 

 

REAR HIGH INTENSITY FOG LIGHTS - RED

 

Marchal offered a round or rectangular rear fog lights.  These high intensity lights were designed for maximum visibility on foggy days to avoid rear collisions.  The round light model 642 has a painted metal housing and bezel.  The rectangular light model 644 has a grey plastic or chromed plastic housing. 

 

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RECTANGULAR FOG LIGHTS - 

 

850 fog/cornering.  Available with yellow or clear glass.  

 

859 driving.  

 

 

GENERAL MARCHAL NOTES:

All the model numbers are molded into the glass lenses and differentiate spot/pencil beam (longue porte), fog/cornering (brouillard) or driving (grande ambiance).

Lights ending in '0' are FOG/CORNERING  

Lights ending in '2' are SPOT/PENCIL BEAM (long distance)

Lights ending in '9' are DRIVING (grand ambiance)

Fog lenses were not always yellow glass and long range driving lights were not always clear.  Until 1993 French law required all headlight or auxiliary lights to be yellow.  This meant on French roads either the bulb or the glass had to be yellow.  

Marchal became part of the Valeo industrial conglomerate, ironically along with main competitor Cibié.  Today Valeo supplies lights and electronics to virtually every car maker in the world.   The Marchal name was licensed to a Japanese company.  Some 1950s designs are reproduced in China.  Most of the lights I've detailed above for BMWs are not reproduced, so you will likely come across original items. 

 

PHOTO GALLERY 

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700 series lights.  Usually spot lights up top and fog lights at the corners.  Note the bumper bracing.

 

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709 driving lights.  8" diameter, H2 bulbs.

 

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Big 700 series lights, covered until nightfall on a muddy Rallye Monte Carlo.

 

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819 - Marchal called models ending in 9 'Grand Ambiance' lights ( driving lights)

 

 

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Rallye Monte Carlo

 

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The latest 900 series big lights for this entrant in the Tour de France Automobile.  This tough rally was a circuit of France on paved and unpaved roads and also race tracks.

 

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700 series spot/pencil beam lamp.  Note the 702/722 designation molded into the glass. 

 

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882 spot/pencil beam.  7" diameter, H3 bulb.

 

 

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The three sizes of soft covers.   These are all the 'two color' design (red and black).  The 'one color' design just had the black cat and flag. 

 

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In the late 1970s plastic housings were introduced.  Chromed plastic or black plastic was offered. 

 

 

 

 

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Same basic housing, trim ring, and H3 bulbs, but different lenses for different purposes.  810 fog/cornering, 812 spot/pencil beam.

 

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880 fog/cornering.  7" diameter, H3 bulb.  

 

 

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Rallye of Poland entry showing off for the crowd.  The covers in the center are an old design from the 1950s.  

 

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1975 Le Mans 24 hour race.  Heidegger racing won its class against all odds.  Victory for the 2002!  Thanks to Marchal lights?  

 

 

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Marchal's first 'modern' design of the 1960s. 612 and 610. Short production run, old bulb technology.

 

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882 spot/pencil beam.  7" diameter, H3 bulb. 

 

 

 

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This is the 'one color' soft cover design.  The 'two color' option added red SEV Marchal lettering.

 

 

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810 fog/cornering. 5.5" diameter, H3 bulb.

 

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Is Dirand scrubbing off speed or out of control?  Note broken headlight.  This is a track stage of the 1970 Tour de France Automobile.  

 

 

 

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Big 700 lights braced to the bodywork. 

 

 

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Big spot lights protected by 'one color' covers.  Smaller fog/cornering lights shielded by 'two color' covers.  24 hour race at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium.  What are underneath the headlights, added indicators or signal lights?

 

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German entrant in the Rallye Monte Carlo.  Spot lights up high - check.  Sump guard - check.  Sunglasses - check. Helmets......

 

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Snowy conditions on the Rallye Monte Carlo.

 

 

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710 design (H1 bulb) replaced by 810 (H3 bulb) design.

 

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Big 700 series lights.  Silver-painted housings, chrome bezels, yellow glass.

 

 

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810 design replaced the 710.  The metal housing and bezel remained the same.

 

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This 1969 Rallye Monte Carlo entrant from Switzerland used the older 'Fantastic' models. Note the custom light bar.  662/762  spots up high, 660/760 fogs on the sides, as shown below:

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Beautiful Marchal 'Fantastics'.  Introduced in 1955 but updated in 1965 with new H1 bulb holders in an attempt to keep them competitive. 

 

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880 fog cornering lights with clear lenses.  7" diameter, H3 bulbs and hard plastic covers from 1975 on. 

 

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Hard plastic cover for 810, 812, 819 lights introduced in 1975, with typical crack.

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812 light uses blue wire from the factory.   712 light uses a thinner gauge white wire. 

 

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Rear high intensity fog light.  Part # 642-11002.

 

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782 spot/pencil light lens.  7" diameter.  H1 bulb.

 

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709 fog/cornering.  8" diameter.  Silver painted metal housing.  Chrome bezel. H2 bulb.

 

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909 fog/cornering.  Same housing and bulb as above but an updated lens with cat logo. 

 

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When the big 700 series was first introduced the housing was much deeper.  This is an 8" diameter 722 spot light with the early deep housing. Also note this early 8" light uses an H1 bulb holder.  This was soon replaced by H2 bulb holders and a much shallower housing.  

 

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810 fog lights and 702/722 spot lights.  The placement of the fog lights up high on the inside is not ideal, but the bumper brackets offer better support for the heavier spot lights. 

 

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859 driving light kit from the late '70s or early '80s

 

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859 driving lights

 

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FAQ member 'Conserv' took this beautiful photo back in 1977 of his '76 with the latest Marchal rectangular fog lights installed.  

 

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This page of a Marchal catalog show the light beams of each lens style...

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Top beam graphic shows Fog light pattern   ( lights ending in '0')  610, 710, 810, 880, 850, 700, 900

Middle graphic shows Driving light pattern  ( lights ending in '9')  819, 859, 709, 909

Bottom graphic shows Spot light pattern     ( lights ending in '2')  612, 712, 812, 882, 702, 722, 902 

 

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Early 'Fantastic' 660 fog lights.  Design was introduced in 1955 and remained in production with updated 660/760 lens until 1969.

 

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Note custom through-the-grille bracket. This glass design is the original 1955 660 lens.  It was replaced in the 1960s by a lens marked 660 /760 which had less of a shield motif and more of a 'starburst' design.

 

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Norwegian entrant in the Rallye Monte Carlo came equipped with big 700 series lights. 

 

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FAQ member Jam3422 installed Marchal 712 long distance lights on his exquisite '71 ti. 

 

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Thanks for looking, please post photos of how you installed Marchals on your BMW.....

 

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The 2002ti of co-drivers Prevoteau and Devaux.  Event is the 2nd Grand National Tour Auto, France 1971.   They finished  2nd in class 18th overall. 

 

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Drivers Depnic and Belly drove this 2002ti in the 2nd Grand National Tour Auto, France 1971.  First in class, 13th overall. 

 

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Nice combo of 200mm soft and 150mm hard covers. 

 

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FAQ member 'Pitopop' has super-rare French yellow AMPILUX headlights with matching yellow 709 driving lights. Gorgeous! And the setting's not bad either.....

 

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FAQ member '2761876' installed NOS 819 (driving / 'grande ambiance') 5 3/4" diameter lights using mounts that bolt to the bumper bumper brackets.   Protection from road rash is courtesy of NOS 6" vinyl padded covers.   

 

 

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1971 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps, Belgium. 

 

 

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......also the 1971 24 Hours of Spa 

 

 

 

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The three cars above are entries into the Nürburgring 96 Hour Race (!!) on August 17th 1971.

 

 

 

 

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Marchal's largest light offering, big 8" diameter 722 fog lights.  Nürburgring 1971.

 

 

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810 fog with soft covers and original boxes. 

 

 

 

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812 spot lights with soft covers.

 

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710 fog and 712 spot.

 

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712 spot lights in clear glass with '2 color' soft covers.

 

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24 hour race at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium.  Marchal 8" lights, can't tell if they are fog or spot.  Note the rear wheel lifting and the tiny diameter tubing of the roll bar. 

 

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2800cs at LeMans 24 hour race, 1972.  Headlights are Marchal also. 

 

 

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Spa 24 hour race.  Lighting courtesy of early design Marchal 700/722 series 8" spot lights and 780 series  7" fog lights down at the corners.  

 

 

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24 hour races require plenty of good lights.....and an exhaust pipe that exits before the rear tire.  I bet that sounds good. 

 

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Rallye Monte Carlo entrant with 8" 700 series lights.

 

 

 

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Rallye Marathon de la Route, France. German team of Eisenschenk and Stoffel.  

 

 

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Rallye Monte Carlo.

 

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Rallye Monte Carlo.  Note the BMW 1800 press vehicle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Marchal 850 series amber fog lights on my '76.  Photos taken April '77.  I removed them in the '90's and haven't seen them since; maybe I threw them out!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

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Edited by Conserv

1976 2002 Polaris, 2742541 (original owner)

1973 2002tii Inka, 2762757 (not-the-original owner)

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