Gregory Bender

Map light

Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

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Updated:

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Moto Guzzi fit a map light to certain police machines. These are very rare pieces and I've never seen one in person. Greg Field's excellent book Moto Guzzi Big Twins has a photo of an original California Highway Patrol Police Eldorado on page 48. In the photo, you can see the shape of the original windshield as well as the map light mounted to the windshield.

Original Moto Guzzi map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.
Original Moto Guzzi map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.

Photo courtesy of Greg Field from page 48 of his book Moto Guzzi Big Twins.

Original Moto Guzzi map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.
Original Moto Guzzi map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.

Photo courtesy of Greg Field from page 48 of his book Moto Guzzi Big Twins.

Thanks to Ulrich Hoffmann for sending me the following information about map lights that appear to be very close to the original design. In Ulrich's own words:

And this one could be the one fitted on the windshield.

Map light. Appears to be very close to the original map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.
Map light. Appears to be very close to the original map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.

Photo courtesy of eBay auction.

Map light. Appears to be very close to the original map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.
Map light. Appears to be very close to the original map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.

Photo courtesy of eBay auction.

Here is an addition for the map reading light chapter on the Moto Guzzi Eldorado cockpit. I found these while searching for vintage chrome map light. Made by WIPAC, England called ELBO-Lite. Sold by autochron

Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.
Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.

Photo courtesy of autochron.

Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.
Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.

Photo courtesy of autochron.

Thanks to Euan MacGuzzi McGlynn for contributing these photos of a non-original map light that he fit to his police dash. Moto Guzzi did fit a map light to some police bikes (fit to the windshield). It is a very rare piece and I've never seen one in person.

Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.
Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.

Photo courtesy of Euan MacGuzzi McGlynn.

Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.
Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.

Photo courtesy of Euan MacGuzzi McGlynn.

Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.
Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.

Photo courtesy of Euan MacGuzzi McGlynn.

Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.
Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.

Photo courtesy of Euan MacGuzzi McGlynn.

Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.
Map light. Applicable to Moto Guzzi police models such as the V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models.

Photo courtesy of Euan MacGuzzi McGlynn.

Thanks also to Jon Runaas for sending additional information about how to obtain a similar non-original map light. In Jon's own words and photos:

Looking for something else on your website I happened to click on the loop frame "Map Light" page. I immediately realized that the map light appears identical to the rear reading lights installed on high trim level (Vanden Plas for sure) Jaguar XJ6 and XJ12s from the 70s and 80s. I believe they were also found on many other British cars from the late 60s into the 80s, as well, but don't know of any specific models for sure. With the large numbers of rusted out Jags in junkyards these lights should be easy to find.

Map light from Jaguar XJ6 and XJ12 automobiles from the 1970s and 1980s.
Map light from Jaguar XJ6 and XJ12 automobiles from the 1970s and 1980s.

Photo courtesy of Jon Runaas.

Map light from Jaguar XJ6 and XJ12 automobiles from the 1970s and 1980s.
Map light from Jaguar XJ6 and XJ12 automobiles from the 1970s and 1980s.

Photo courtesy of Jon Runaas.