interior lights

[altair]

I have a 1954 champion four door sedan (Y) body and when I removed the upholstery off the center pillar between the doors at or near the bottom of the pillar is a factory cut out with screw holes for a light socket. Was there any models that had floor level lights as standard equipment or were these lights optional? I plan on installing lights in the sockets as they would offer some additional floor level lighting.

[StudeRich]

No, there never were "Courtesy Lights" in the rear of Studebakers.

That is weird that those rectangular holes still existed, I always thought they were for the "B" Pillar Ash Tray on the '47-'52 Models, but no reason they should still be in the Die for the "B" Pillar of '53-'58's.

By the way a 4 Door sedan is a "W" Body, only long wheelbase (Commander) Land Cruisers, President States', and President Classics in '53-'58 were on the "Y" body 120 Inch W/B.

[48skyliner]

You might get some useful idea if you look at the courtesy lights I made for my 48, mounted in the original ashtray housing. The photos and description are near the bottom of this posting. You don't have to get fancy, just a piece of white translucent plastic would give you more light:

http://stilettoman.info/2015/07/1948-studebaker-restomod-skyline-drivetrain/

[altair]

My mistake it is a "W" body. If on the earlier models the cut outs were for ash trays they would have been quite low as these are about 6" from the floor. The cut outs are about 2 1/2" X 3" with a screw hole top and bottom, 6" off the floor. I am going to fabricate some kind of lights in there just because they are there. They would appear to be a good accessory for lighting the rear floor area.
Perhaps they were for export models.

[altair]

The stampings in my door post match the same size as in the 48 except they are vertical. They are about 2" x 4" and about knee high with screw holes top and bottom. I do like your lighting idea but I think I will use a plastic lens.

[StudeRich]

Two Doors have Horizontal Ash Trays because there is room on a Quarter Panel, 4 Doors have Vertical Ash Trays because there is very narrow space available on the "B" Pillar.

[altair]

Thanks Rich, I think these stampings were vertical ash trays in some models. In my 54 they were covered with upholstery and possibly an option. Would you know what models/years had the optional vertical ash trays?

[StudeRich]

Thanks Rich, I think these stampings were vertical ash trays in some models. In my 54 they were covered with upholstery and possibly an option. Would you know what models/years had the optional vertical ash trays?

Yes, see Post #2.