Chevrolet El Camino Instrument Panel Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The 168 bulb is the most frequently specified instrument panel bulb for the Chevrolet El Camino, appearing across the 1973-1975, 1977-1978, 1980, 1982, 1984-1985 model years. It is an ANSI-standard miniature wedge bulb in the T10 form factor, rated at 12V and 4.9W.
• The 194 bulb is the second most common specification, covering the 1968, 1971-1972, 1979, 1983, and 1986 model years. It shares the same T10 wedge form factor as the 168 but draws less power at 3.78W on a 12V circuit.
• Although the 161 and 168 bulbs share the T10 wedge base and operate on 12V, their wattage ratings differ significantly. The 161 is rated at 1W, while the 168 is rated at 4.9W, making them non-interchangeable despite their physical similarity.
• The 194 and 168 bulbs also share the T10 wedge base, yet their wattage ratings of 3.78W and 4.9W respectively indicate they are distinct specifications. Substituting one for the other in the El Camino's instrument panel would not match the original equipment rating.
• The 1895 bulb was specified for the 1964-1965, 1967, and 1969-1970 model years. It is a T5 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 0.9W, a notably smaller form factor than the T10 bulbs used in later model years.
• The 1445 bulb, specified for the 1976 Chevrolet El Camino, uses a BA9s bayonet base rather than a wedge base. Rated at 12V and 2W, it is physically incompatible with the T10 or T5 wedge sockets found in other model years.
• The 57 bulb was specified for the 1960 and 1966 model years. Like the 1445, it uses a BA9s base and is rated at 12V and 1W, placing it in the same base family as the 1445 but at a lower wattage.
• The 257 bulb, specified solely for the 1959 model year, is rated at 12V and 2W and is listed as compatible with either a festoon or BA9s base configuration, distinguishing it from all other bulb types in these specifications.
• The transition from BA9s-based bulbs in the earliest model years to T5 wedge bulbs in the mid-to-late 1960s, and then to T10 wedge bulbs through the 1970s and 1980s, reflects a progression across three distinct socket types within the El Camino instrument panel specifications.
• All seven bulb types listed across these specifications conform to ANSI standards applicable in both the United States and Canada, and all operate on a 12V electrical system.