The Buick Special front side marker uses a 194NA bulb size while the rear side marker requires a 194 bulb size. The replacement chart covers 1968 to 1969 vehicle production years with corresponding bulb specifications.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 194 bulb is the most prevalent type across these specifications, appearing in both front and rear side marker positions for the Buick Special across the 1968-1969 model years. It follows the ANSI standard recognized in the US and Canada, and takes a miniature wedge form factor designated T10, rated at 12V and 3.78W.
The 194NA variant shares the same T10 wedge base, voltage, and wattage as the standard 194, but incorporates natural amber glass. This amber coloring is built into the bulb itself rather than relying on a colored lens to produce the required marker light hue.
The front side marker positions on the 1968-1969 Buick Special call for the 194NA, while the rear positions use the clear 194. This distinction reflects a deliberate separation between the two variants based on position, not interchangeable use.
Because the 194NA and 194 share the same T10 wedge base and electrical ratings, they are physically compatible with the same socket. However, substituting a clear 194 in a front position designed for the 194NA would alter the emitted light color, as the amber tint would no longer be present at the bulb level.
Both bulb types operate on a 12-volt electrical system, consistent with the standard automotive electrical architecture of the late 1960s. The 3.78W power draw places them in the low-wattage category typical of marker and indicator lighting rather than primary illumination.