53 Vicky Interior lighting Questions ??

[36FordMan]

I just bought this really nice 53 Vicky that has been through a frame off restoration. The interior is not done.

I do know that there are 2 interior lights on the C pillars. Is there a dome light in the center or any maps lights or ?? They are all controlled from one switch on the dash ??

Thanks for the help,

Doug

[JeffB2]

You should have a center headliner bow that has a flat plate in the center to mount a light,some Victoria's only had the side lights. If you want the bow with the plate I may have a spare to sell.

[36FordMan]

Is that true for the 53 or the 54 or both ? What does the dome like look like ? Round or rectangular ?

[paul2748]

my 54 Victoria does not have a dome light. Just the C pillar lights.

[Daves55Sedan]

I'm not 100% sure about this but it seems like the 49,50,51,52,53 and 54 Fords all had pillar lights and no dome light, but in '55 and ever after they had a dome light and eliminated the pillar lights.
The courtesy lights are wired from the battery terminal of the headlight switch so that they turn on via the courtesy door switches at any time, car running or not.
When they went to the dome light, the light housing had a switch on it that allowed you to turn on the light when the doors were closed, so there was a splice at the hot wire ahead of the first courtesy switch on the front door jamb to feed that switch.

[54vicky]

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there was also a courtesy light for under dash.I have not seen a dome light on a vicky the light under dash was operated by a toggle switch.

[Ole Don]

My 54 Vicky had a dome light, it didn't make much light. I put F150 under dash lights in the circuit and they lit up the floor so we could see to get in after dark.

[Daves55Sedan]

Originally Posted by 54vicky

there was also a courtesy light for under dash.I have not seen a dome light on a vicky the light under dash was operated by a toggle switch.

The map light under the dash was a special order accessory and very few cars had it. The map light consisted of a rectangular shaped galvanized steel bracket, light socket with built-in glass lens and a miniature light switch similar to the switch the dome lights had. The rectangular bracket had two holes for mounting under the dashboard. Yes, those were wired so that the only time the light came on is when you manually operated the switch.
Fomoco produced that same map light for most of the 1950's, maybe even earlier.

[lafarm]

My 52 Vicky has a solid short to ground in the c pillar light wiring think it may have been a staple or something when they put the headliner in but I cannot determine the routing to start troubleshooting it, any information on the routing of that wiring appreciated.

[Robz51]

Pretty sure the two c-pillar lights are all you have. Should have a switch on the dash for "interior lights" and two door jamb switches. My 52 Merc has a switch also on left rear arm rest but not sure if Vickies had them. Under dash or "map lights" were options.
Rob

[Robz51]

Iafarm, I am rewiring my Merc right now. Although Merc and Ford hardtops have the lights in different locations the wire routing should be similar. There is a hole in the body on the lh side below the c-pillar where the wire goes to the light.. It requires removing the back seat and left armrest and interior panel. The crossover wire is inside the headliner(at least on Mercs it is) mine was bare with most of the insulation crumbling off.
Rob

[Big Red 51]

lafarm, the body harness handles the Victoria pillar lights for '52 & '53. The harness starts by exiting the interior thru a hole on drivers side just above the kick panel and continues down in front of the drivers door to the rocker panel and then back to the trunk running along the bottom of the body. Just below the drivers side pillar post, the light wire goes up to the pillar light and then across to the passenger side pillar light behind the headliner. My Vic and many others have a "Map" light under the dash that can be wired to come on when doors open or when Interior light switch is operated or manually when small switch is operated. Hope this helps. Don

[lafarm]

Rob and Don thankyou that information will help a lot, My car has just the pillar lights also has a map light the short is between the door switches and the pillar lights, I will try and find it now I know where the wire goes.

[paul2748]

My 54 Victoria interior lights are the same

Originally Posted by Big Red 51

My Vic and many others have a "Map" light under the dash that can be wired to come on when doors open or when Interior light switch is operated or manually when small switch is operated. Hope this helps. Don