Buick Special Dome Light Bulb Size

The Buick Special dome light utilizes bulb sizes 211-2, 1004, and 90 depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Data for the bulb sizes covers the range from 1954 to 1969.

The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.

Bulb Size by Year Range

Years	Bulb Size
1969	211-2
1968	1004
1964-1967	211-2
1963	1004
1962	211-2
1961	90
1957-1958	1004
1955-1956	90
1954	1004

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon bulb, 41mm length, SV8.5 base. 12V, 12W.	211-2
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. Variant of 1157. 12V, 21/5W.	1004
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 13W.	90

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The 211-2 is the most frequently specified dome light bulb across the Buick Special's model years, appearing in seven of the fourteen listed years: 1962, and 1964-1967, and 1969.
The 211-2 is a festoon-type bulb, meaning it is cylindrical and mounts by pressing its end caps into spring clips rather than using a bayonet or screw base. It measures 41mm in length, uses an SV8.5 base, and operates at 12V with a 12W output.
The 1004 is the second most common bulb in these specifications, used in the Buick Special for 1954, 1957, 1958, 1963, and 1968.
The 1004 is a dual-filament bulb with a BAY15d bayonet base, rated at 12V and 21/5W. Its dual-filament design means it produces two distinct light levels, a characteristic more typical of signal or brake lighting than interior use.
The 1004 is described as a variant of the 1157, a widely used automotive bulb. While the two share a BAY15d base, they are not confirmed as interchangeable in these specifications, and substitution without verification of wattage and pin offset compatibility carries fitment risk.
The bulb designated 90 is specified for the Buick Special in 1955, 1956, and 1961. It is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 13W.
The BA15s base of the 90 bulb and the BAY15d base of the 1004 bulb are physically distinct. The BA15s is a single-contact base, while the BAY15d is a dual-contact base with offset pins. These two base types are not interchangeable.
All three bulb types in these specifications are ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada, indicating conformance to a shared North American classification system rather than an automaker-proprietary designation.
The Buick Special used three different dome light bulb types across the 1954-1969 model years covered, with no single bulb type spanning the entire range without interruption.
The transition between bulb types at certain model years, such as the shift from the 1004 in 1968 to the 211-2 in 1969, reflects changes in base type and bulb format that make cross-year substitution inadvisable without confirming socket compatibility.