Chevrolet Corvair Ash Tray Bulb Size

The Chevrolet Corvair ash tray light uses bulb sizes 1445 and 53 depending on the specific vehicle configuration. Data for the lighting components covers the range from 1960 through 1969.

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
1965-1969	1445
1960-1964	53

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 2W.	1445
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 2W.	53

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Additional Notes

The Chevrolet Corvair ash tray bulb specification calls for two distinct bulb types across its production run: the 1445 for the 1965-1969 model years and the 53 for the 1960-1964 model years.
Both the 1445 and the 53 are ANSI-standard bulbs recognized in the United States and Canada, each operating on a 12-volt circuit with a 2-watt power draw.
The BA9s base is a miniature bayonet fitting with a 9mm cap body, and both the 1445 and the 53 share this base type, making them physically similar in mounting configuration.
Despite sharing the same base type, voltage rating, and wattage, the 1445 and the 53 carry different ANSI designations, which indicates a distinction in their physical envelope or filament geometry that affects direct interchangeability.
Both bulbs are single-filament types, meaning each serves a straightforward on/off illumination function with no provision for dual-intensity output such as that found in stop/tail lamp applications.
The 2-watt rating of both bulbs places them in the low-output category, consistent with interior indicator and courtesy lighting roles such as ash tray illumination.
The specification change from the 53 to the 1445 occurring between the 1964 and 1965 Chevrolet Corvair model years reflects a deliberate fitment revision, and substituting one for the other without confirming physical compatibility is not supported by the specifications.