Buick Wildcat front and rear side marker bulbs utilize 194 and 194NA bulb sizes for optimal illumination. The replacement chart covers 1968 to 1970 production years with corresponding bulb size specifications.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Buick Wildcat side marker system across 1968-1970 relies entirely on T10 miniature wedge bulbs, a form factor characterized by a wedge-shaped base that seats directly into a socket without a separate metal base or locking pins.
Both the 194 and 194NA variants share identical electrical ratings of 12V and 3.78W, meaning they draw the same current and produce the same wattage output.
The 194NA designation denotes a natural amber glass envelope, which filters the light output to produce an amber color at the lens level rather than relying solely on a colored housing or lens to achieve that effect.
The standard 194 uses a clear glass envelope, with any color output determined by the fixture's lens rather than the bulb itself.
Both bulb types carry ANSI standardization for the United States and Canada, indicating conformance to a defined set of dimensional and performance tolerances under that regulatory framework.
For the Buick Wildcat, the front side marker positions in 1968-1969 are specified with the 194NA, placing the amber-producing element at the bulb rather than the lens in those model years.
The 1970 front side marker position shifts to the standard 194, a distinction from the two preceding model years where the 194NA was specified for that same position.
The rear side marker positions across all three model years, 1968-1970, are uniformly specified as the standard 194, with no amber glass variant called out for any rear application.
Because the 194 and 194NA share the same T10 wedge base and electrical characteristics, physical installation is mechanically interchangeable, though substituting one for the other alters whether amber color is produced by the bulb or must be provided by the lens.