Chevrolet El Camino Turn Signal Indicator Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Chevrolet El Camino turn signal indicator uses four distinct bulb types across its production years: the 194, 168, 1895, 1445, and 257, each with different base types, wattages, and physical forms.
• The 194 bulb is the most frequently specified type across the El Camino's production history, covering the 1978-1987 model years as well as 1968, making it the dominant fitment across ten model years in total.
• The 194 is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3.78W, conforming to the ANSI standard used in both the United States and Canada. The wedge base design means it is held in place by the socket itself rather than by a separate locking mechanism.
• The 168 bulb, used in the Chevrolet El Camino for the 1971-1973 model years, shares the same T10 wedge form factor as the 194 but operates at a higher wattage of 4.9W. Despite the physical similarity, the two bulbs are not identical and the wattage difference is a relevant fitment consideration.
• The 1895 is a T5 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 0.9W, making it the lowest-wattage bulb in the El Camino's turn signal indicator specifications. It was used in the 1966-1967 and 1969-1970 model years.
• The T5 form factor of the 1895 is physically smaller than the T10 form factor shared by the 194 and 168. These bulbs are not interchangeable despite all three using a wedge base, as socket size and wattage ratings differ.
• The 1445 bulb, specified for the 1964-1965 El Camino, uses a BA9s bayonet-style base rather than a wedge base. It is rated at 12V and 2W. The BA9s base requires a different socket type than wedge-base bulbs, making cross-substitution with wedge types physically incompatible.
• The 257 bulb, used in the 1959-1960 El Camino, is rated at 12V and 2W and is listed as fitting either a festoon or BA9s base configuration. This dual-base notation reflects that the 257 was produced in more than one physical form.
• All bulb types specified across the El Camino's turn signal indicator positions conform to ANSI standards applicable in both the United States and Canada, indicating standardized electrical and photometric ratings rather than proprietary specifications.
• Because the El Camino's turn signal indicator used five different bulb types across its production run, year-specific verification is necessary before substitution, as bulbs sharing similar voltage ratings are not necessarily interchangeable due to differences in base type, wattage, and physical size.