Cadillac Eldorado License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Cadillac Eldorado license plate bulb specifications span model years 1953 through 2002, covering four distinct bulb sizes across that period: the 194, 161, 97, and 67.
• The 194 is the most widely specified bulb across the Eldorado lineup, covering model years 1973-2002 with the single exception of 1981, as well as 1982 through 2002 without interruption.
• The 194 is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3.78W, conforming to the ANSI standard recognized in both the United States and Canada.
• The wedge base design of the 194 means it is retained by friction rather than a locking mechanism, which distinguishes it from bayonet-base bulbs used in earlier Eldorado model years.
• The 1981 Cadillac Eldorado is the sole model year specified with the 161 bulb, a T10 miniature wedge bulb sharing the same base type as the 194 but rated at a significantly lower 1W output.
• Because the 161 and 194 share the T10 wedge base, physical fitment between the two is possible, but their wattage ratings differ substantially, and substitution may affect illumination output.
• The 97 bulb is specified for the 1971-1972 model years. It uses a BA15s single-contact bayonet base and is rated at 12V and 13W, making it a higher-wattage variant within the BA15s family.
• The 67 bulb covers the longest early span of the Eldorado, from 1953 through 1970. It also uses a BA15s bayonet base but is rated at 8W, placing it at a lower wattage than the 97.
• The 97 and 67 are both single-filament BA15s bayonet-base bulbs and are described as variants of the 1156 type, meaning the base is physically compatible, though wattage differences exist between them.
• A transition from bayonet-base bulbs to wedge-base bulbs occurred between the 1972 and 1973 model years, reflecting a shift in socket technology for the license plate position on the Eldorado.