Ford C800 License Plate Bulb Size

The Ford C800 license plate light uses 1157 and 97 bulb sizes for the rear illumination system. Data for the specified vehicle covers the range from 1980 through 1989.

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
1988-1989	1157
1987	97
1980-1986	1157

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. 12V, 21W/5W.	1157
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	97

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The 1157 bulb is the dominant fitment for the Ford C800 license plate position, appearing across the 1980-1986 and 1988-1989 model years.
The 1157 is a dual-filament bulb operating at 12 volts with a 21W/5W power rating, meaning it carries one higher-wattage filament and one lower-wattage filament within a single housing.
It uses a BAY15d bayonet base, a two-pin offset base design that prevents incorrect installation by ensuring the pins are not symmetrically positioned.
The 1157 conforms to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.
The 1987 Ford C800 is the sole model year in these specifications fitted with the bulb size 97 in the license plate position.
The 97 is a single-filament bulb rated at 12 volts and 13 watts, making it a lower-wattage unit compared to the 1157.
The 97 uses a BA15s bayonet base, a single-pin base that is not interchangeable with the dual-pin BAY15d base used by the 1157.
The 97 bulb is classified as a variant of the 1156, sharing its single-filament design and BA15s base but differing in wattage output.
Because the 1157 and the 97 use physically different base types, BAY15d and BA15s respectively, the two bulbs are not interchangeable despite both being 12-volt ANSI-standard units.