Chevrolet El Camino Ignition Light Bulb Size

The Chevrolet El Camino ignition light requires bulb size 1895, 1445, or 53 depending on the specific application. Data for the listed components covers the period from 1959 to 1968.

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
1968	1895
1964-1967	1445
1959-1960	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.	1445
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 2W.	53

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The ignition light bulb specifications for the Chevrolet El Camino span three distinct bulb types across the 1959-1968 model years: the 53, the 1445, and the 1895.
All three bulb types are designated under the ANSI standard, applicable in both the United States and Canada.
The 1445 and 53 bulbs share identical electrical and base specifications, both operating at 12V with a 2W output and using a BA9s bayonet base with a single filament.
The BA9s base is a small bayonet-style cap, a compact single-pin fitting commonly used in instrument panel and indicator lighting applications.
Despite their identical specifications, the 53 and 1445 carry different ANSI designations, which can affect fitment depending on the socket design of a given model year.
The Chevrolet El Camino (1964-1967) uses the 1445 bulb for the ignition light position.
The 1968 El Camino uses the 1895 bulb, which is a T5 miniature wedge type operating at 12V and 0.9W, a lower wattage than the 1445 and 53 bulbs used in earlier model years.
The T5 wedge base of the 1895 bulb is physically incompatible with the BA9s bayonet sockets used in earlier El Camino model years, making the 1895 a non-interchangeable replacement for those applications.
The 1959-1960 El Camino uses the 53 bulb, which shares its BA9s base and 2W rating with the 1445 used in the 1964-1967 model years.