Chevrolet Corvette Instrument Panel Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The 194 bulb is the most frequently specified instrument panel bulb across the Chevrolet Corvette lineup, appearing in more model years than any other type in these specifications. It is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3.78W, conforming to ANSI standards for the US and Canadian markets.
• The 161 bulb shares the same T10 miniature wedge form factor as the 194 but draws significantly less power at 1W versus 3.78W. Both types use the same physical base, yet their wattage difference means they are not functionally identical replacements for one another despite the shared socket format.
• The PC74 and PC161 bulb types are variants of standard wedge bulbs fitted with a printed circuit board twist-lock socket, a design specific to instrument cluster applications. The PC74 is a T5 form factor rated at 1.4W, while the PC161 uses a T10 form factor. These PC-suffix designations indicate a specialized mounting interface not shared with their non-PC counterparts.
• The 74 and PC74 bulbs share the same T5 form factor and 1.4W rating, but the PC74 incorporates a printed circuit board twist-lock socket. The Corvette's 1994 instrument panel calls for the PC74, while the 1992 and 1990 models use the standard 74, reflecting a difference in cluster mounting design between those years.
• The 1895 and 1896 bulbs are both T5 miniature wedge types rated at 12V and 0.9W, making them the lowest-wattage bulbs in these specifications. The 1967-1970 Corvette instrument panels use the 1895, while the 1953-1954 models use the 1896. Despite near-identical electrical ratings, these are distinct ANSI part numbers and are not listed as interchangeable within these specifications.
• The 257 bulb is specified with either a festoon or BA9s base configuration, which distinguishes it from the wedge-base types that dominate the rest of the Corvette instrument panel specifications. It is rated at 12V and 2W and appears across multiple model years from 1958 through 1966.
• The 57 bulb uses a BA9s bayonet base with a single filament, rated at 12V and 1W. It shares the BA9s base style referenced in the 257 description, but the two are separate ANSI types with different constructions and wattages, and the specifications treat them as distinct fitments across different model years.
• The 1816 bulb is a T3.25 miniature wedge type rated at 4W, giving it the highest wattage of any bulb in these specifications. It is the specified instrument panel bulb for the 1974-1975 Corvette.
• The 168 bulb is a T10 miniature wedge rated at 12V and 4.9W. Although it shares the T10 form factor with the 194 and 161 bulbs, its wattage is higher than either, and it is specified only for the 1972-1973 Corvette instrument panel in these records.
• The 1996 Corvette instrument panel is specified with the 161 bulb, while the surrounding model years from 1997 through 2004 all use the 194. Both are T10 wedge bulbs, but the wattage difference between the 1W rating of the 161 and the 3.78W rating of the 194 represents a meaningful electrical distinction relevant to fitment.