Chevrolet Corvette Radio Display Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The 1893 bulb is the most frequently specified radio display bulb across the Chevrolet Corvette model range, appearing in sixteen consecutive years from 1964 to 1970 and continuing through 1978, making it the dominant fitment across that era. It is an ANSI-standard T5 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 2W.
• The T5 wedge form factor is shared by four distinct bulb numbers in these specifications: the 37, 73, 1893, 1891, and 1896. Despite sharing the same physical envelope designation, these bulbs carry different wattage ratings ranging from 0.9W to 2W, which means they are not interchangeable without accounting for power draw differences.
• The 37 bulb, a T5 miniature wedge rated at 12V and 1W, is specified for the Chevrolet Corvette radio display across 1982 and 1985-1989, with the exception of 1986, which uses the 73 bulb instead.
• The 1986 Corvette radio display uses the 73 bulb, a T5 miniature wedge rated at 12V and 1.4W. Although it shares the T5 form factor with the 37 bulb used in surrounding model years, its higher wattage output distinguishes it from that fitment.
• The 194 bulb, a T10 miniature wedge rated at 12V and 3.78W, is specified for the 1980-1981 and 1984 Corvette radio display. Its T10 housing is physically larger than the T5 form factor and is not interchangeable with T5-based bulbs regardless of wattage proximity.
• The 1891 and 1893 bulbs share identical electrical ratings of 12V and 2W and both use the T5 wedge form factor under ANSI standards. The 1891 is specified for the 1958-1960 Corvette, while the 1893 covers 1964-1978. Cross-compatibility between these two numbers warrants verification against the specific socket design before substitution.
• The 1963 Corvette radio display uses the 1816 bulb, a T3.25 miniature wedge rated at 12V and 4W. The T3.25 designation indicates a narrower tube width than the T5 bulbs used in adjacent model years, and its 4W rating is the highest wattage among all bulbs listed in these specifications.
• The 1961 Corvette radio display uses the 257 bulb, described as a festoon or BA9s base instrument bulb rated at 12V and 2W. The BA9s base type uses a bayonet-style pin fitting rather than a wedge base, making it physically incompatible with any of the wedge-type bulbs specified for other model years.
• The 57 bulb, a single-filament BA9s base bulb rated at 12V and 1W, is specified for the 1955-1957 Corvette radio display. Like the 257, it uses a BA9s bayonet base rather than a wedge mount, distinguishing it from the majority of bulb types in these specifications.
• The 1896 bulb, a T5 miniature wedge rated at 12V and 0.9W, is specified for the 1953-1954 Corvette radio display. At 0.9W, it carries the lowest wattage rating of any bulb in these specifications, and substitution with other T5 bulbs of higher wattage could result in a mismatch with the original circuit design.