Chevrolet Bel Air Instrument Panel Bulb Size

The Chevrolet Bel Air instrument panel utilizes unique bulb sizes 168, 1445, 194, 1895, 57, 257, and 1896 depending on the specific version. Available data covers the range of 1950 through 1975 for the components listed.

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

If US Type and EU Type show the same value, a direct cross-reference for this bulb is not available or the data is insufficient.

Years	US Type	EU Type	Shop
1974-1975	168	W5W	Check Price
1973	1445	1445	Check Price
1972	168	W5W	Check Price
1970-1971	194	W5W	Check Price
1969	1895	1895	Check Price
1967-1968	194	W5W	Check Price
1964-1966	1895	1895	Check Price
1963	57	57	Check Price
1958-1962	257	257	Check Price
1955-1957	57	57	Check Price
1950-1954	1896	1896	Check Price

Bulb Specifications

Description	Type	Shop
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168	Check Price
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Single-filament signalling bulb with W2.1x9.5d wedge base. 12V, 5W.	W5W	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 2W.	1445	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T5). 12V, 0.9W.	1895	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 1W.	57	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon or BA9s base instrument bulb. 12V, 2W.	257	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T5). 12V, 0.9W.	1896	Check Price

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Chevrolet Bel Air instrument panel draws from six distinct ANSI-standard bulb types across its 1950-1975 model range: the 168, 194, 1445, 1895, 1896, 57, and 257.
The 168 and 194 are both T10 miniature wedge bulbs operating at 12V, though they differ in wattage. The 168 draws 4.9W while the 194 draws 3.78W, making them physically similar but not electrically identical.
The 1895 and 1896 are both T5 miniature wedge bulbs rated at 12V and 0.9W, sharing the same physical form factor and electrical characteristics across their respective ANSI designations.
The 57 and 1445 both use a BA9s bayonet base, though they differ in wattage. The 57 is rated at 1W while the 1445 draws 2W. The BA9s base is a small single-pin bayonet fitting common in instrument panel applications.
The 257 is specified for the Chevrolet Bel Air from 1958-1962 and accommodates either a festoon or BA9s base configuration, indicating that the physical mounting arrangement for those model years allowed for more than one base type.
The 1896 bulb is specified for the 1950-1954 model years, while the physically and electrically identical 1895 covers 1964-1966 and 1969. Despite sharing the same T5 form and 0.9W rating, these carry separate ANSI designations and are not listed interchangeably in the specifications.
The 1973 Bel Air is the only model year specified with the 1445 bulb, which at 2W and a BA9s base stands apart from the T10 wedge types used in surrounding years.
T10 wedge bulbs, represented by the 168 and 194, account for the instrument panel fitment across the 1967-1972 and 1974-1975 model years, making them the most frequently recurring bulb format in the later portion of the Bel Air's production span covered by these specifications.