Chevrolet El Camino License Plate Bulb Size

The Chevrolet El Camino license plate light uses 194, 168, 97, 67, and 1155 bulb sizes depending on the specific production version. Available data covers the range from 1959 through 1987.

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
1978-1987	194
1974-1977	168
1969-1973	97
1968	67
1966-1967	1155
1964-1965	67
1959-1960	67

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	97
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Lower wattage variant of 1156. 12V, 8W.	67
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 21W.	1155

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Chevrolet El Camino uses four distinct bulb types across its license plate lighting history: the 194, 168, 97, 67, and 1155, all of which conform to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.
The 194 is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3.78W. It is the bulb type specified for the El Camino across the longest continuous span in these specifications, covering model years 1978-1987.
The 168 is also a T10 miniature wedge bulb but draws more power at 4.9W on a 12V circuit. It is specified for model years 1974-1977, immediately preceding the transition to the 194.
Although the 194 and 168 share the same T10 wedge base form factor, their wattage ratings differ. Substituting one for the other may affect circuit load and light output, as the 168 draws approximately 30 percent more power than the 194.
The 97, 67, and 1155 are all single-filament bulbs sharing the BA15s bayonet base, the same base type used by the widely referenced 1156 bulb. Despite this shared base, the three types are not electrically identical and are not interchangeable without consideration of wattage differences.
The 1155 is rated at 21W, making it the highest-wattage license plate bulb in these specifications. It is listed for the El Camino in 1966-1967.
The 97 is rated at 13W and is specified for model years 1969-1973. It draws significantly less power than the 1155 despite sharing the same BA15s bayonet base.
The 67 is the lowest-wattage BA15s bayonet bulb in these specifications at 8W. It is listed for model years 1959, 1960, 1964, 1965, and 1968.
The 1968 El Camino uses the 67 bulb, while the immediately following 1969 model year shifts to the higher-wattage 97. Both use the BA15s bayonet base, but their wattage ratings differ by 5W.
The transition from BA15s bayonet-base bulbs to T10 wedge-base bulbs in the El Camino's license plate position reflects a broader industry shift in socket and base design between the early and late portions of the model's production run.