Chevrolet Corvair Ignition Bulb Size

The Chevrolet Corvair ignition uses bulb sizes 1895 and 53 for the lighting components located within the dashboard assembly. Data for the specific bulb sizes 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	1895
1960-1964	53

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T5). 12V, 0.9W.	1895
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 2W.	53

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Chevrolet Corvair uses two distinct ignition bulb types across its production run: the 1895 and the 53, both of which conform to ANSI standards applicable in the United States and Canada.
The 1895 is a T5 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12 volts and 0.9 watts. Its wedge base design means it is retained by friction rather than a separate locking mechanism.
The 53 is a single-filament bulb with a BA9s bayonet base, rated at 12 volts and 2 watts. The BA9s base requires a twist-and-lock insertion into a compatible socket.
At 2 watts, the 53 draws more than twice the wattage of the 1895 at 0.9 watts, meaning the two types are not electrically equivalent and are not interchangeable.
The BA9s base of the 53 and the wedge base of the 1895 are physically incompatible socket types, which further prevents substitution between the two bulbs.
The Chevrolet Corvair (1965-1969) uses the 1895 bulb for the ignition position, representing five consecutive model years on a single bulb specification.
The Chevrolet Corvair (1960-1964) uses the 53 bulb for the ignition position, also spanning five consecutive model years.
The bulb specification changed between the 1964 and 1965 model years, shifting from the BA9s-based 53 to the wedge-based 1895.