Buick Sportwagon License Plate Bulb Size

The Buick Sportwagon license plate light requires bulb sizes 194 or 97 or 1155 depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Available data for the lighting components covers the range from 1964 to 1972.

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
1972	194
1965-1971	97
1964	1155

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	97
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 21W.	1155

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Buick Sportwagon license plate bulb specifications span model years 1964 through 1972, covering three distinct bulb types across that range.
The bulb 97 is the most frequently specified type, appearing across the 1965-1971 model years of the Buick Sportwagon's license plate position.
The 97 bulb follows the ANSI standard for the US and Canadian markets. It is a single-filament type with a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 13W, and is classified as a variant of the 1156 bulb family.
The BA15s bayonet base found on the 97 bulb features a single contact pin, which is the defining characteristic that distinguishes it from dual-contact bayonet bases used in other automotive applications.
The 1964 Buick Sportwagon uses the 1155 bulb for the license plate position. Like the 97, it is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base and is also a variant of the 1156 family, but it operates at a higher wattage of 21W.
Although the 97 and 1155 bulbs share the same BA15s bayonet base and both belong to the 1156 variant family, their wattage ratings differ significantly, at 13W and 21W respectively, which makes them non-interchangeable despite the physical similarity.
The 1972 Buick Sportwagon uses the 194 bulb, which represents a different base type entirely. The 194 is a T10 miniature wedge bulb, meaning it has no metal base pins and instead relies on the wedge shape of its glass envelope to make electrical contact.
At 3.78W, the 194 bulb used in the 1972 model draws considerably less power than either the 97 or the 1155, reflecting the lower power demands typical of wedge-base miniature bulbs in license plate applications.
The shift from the BA15s bayonet-based 97 bulb in 1971 to the T10 wedge-based 194 in 1972 indicates a change in the socket type used in the license plate lamp housing between those two model years, making the bulbs from those years physically incompatible with each other's sockets.
All three bulb types specified for the Buick Sportwagon, the 194, 97, and 1155, conform to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.