Chevrolet Bel Air Glove Box Bulb Size

The Chevrolet Bel Air glove box utilizes 1893, 1895, 194, 257, 57, and 1896 bulb sizes for the interior compartment lighting. Data for the specified components covers the range from 1953 to 1975.

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
1974-1975	1893
1972-1973	1895
1971	194
1964-1970	1895
1958-1963	257
1955-1957	57
1953-1954	1896

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T5). 12V, 2W.	1893
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T5). 12V, 0.9W.	1895
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon or BA9s base instrument bulb. 12V, 2W.	257
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 1W.	57
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T5). 12V, 0.9W.	1896

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Chevrolet Bel Air glove box uses five distinct bulb types across its 1953-1975 model range: the 1893, 1895, 194, 257, 57, and 1896, all conforming to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.
The 1895 bulb is the most frequently specified type, covering the Bel Air's glove box across the 1964-1972 and 1965-1966 model years, making it the dominant fitment across this vehicle's history. It is a T5 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 0.9W.
The 1893 bulb, used in the 1974-1975 Bel Air, shares the same T5 miniature wedge form factor as the 1895 but operates at a higher wattage of 2W versus the 1895's 0.9W. This difference means the two bulbs are not interchangeable despite their physical similarities.
The 1896 bulb, fitted to the 1953-1954 Bel Air, is also a T5 miniature wedge type rated at 12V and 0.9W, giving it identical electrical characteristics to the 1895. However, the two carry separate ANSI designations, and fitment should follow the year-specific specification rather than assumed equivalence.
The 194 bulb, specified solely for the 1971 Bel Air, is a T10 miniature wedge type rated at 12V and 3.78W. The T10 envelope is physically larger than the T5 used in the 1893, 1895, and 1896 bulbs, making cross-substitution between these types incompatible.
The 257 bulb covers the 1958-1963 Bel Air glove box and is described as either a festoon or BA9s base instrument bulb rated at 12V and 2W. The dual base description indicates that the 257 designation may encompass more than one physical configuration depending on the socket type present in the vehicle.
The 57 bulb, used in the 1955-1957 Bel Air, is a single-filament type with a BA9s base rated at 12V and 1W. The BA9s base is a bayonet-style fitting, which is mechanically distinct from the wedge base found in the 1893, 1895, 1896, and 194 bulbs.
Three separate base types are represented across the full specification range: the T5 wedge (1893, 1895, 1896), the T10 wedge (194), and the BA9s bayonet (57, and potentially 257). Substituting across these base types is not physically possible without socket modification.