Ford F-700 License Plate Bulb Size

The Ford F-700 license plate component requires a unique bulb size of 1157 for proper illumination and function. Available data covers a specific range of years from 1970 through 1998.

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
1970-1998	1157

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. 12V, 21W/5W.	1157

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Ford F-700 uses the 1157 bulb for the license plate position across all listed model years, spanning 1970-1998.
The 1157 is an ANSI-standardized bulb type recognized across the United States and Canada, meaning it conforms to a defined set of electrical and physical specifications shared by all compliant manufacturers.
The 1157 is a dual-filament bulb, meaning it contains two separate filaments within a single envelope, each operating at a different wattage.
The two filaments in the 1157 operate at 21W and 5W respectively on a 12-volt circuit, with the lower-wattage filament typically serving a continuous or parking function and the higher-wattage filament serving a brighter signaling function.
The 1157 uses a BAY15d bayonet base, which is a two-pin offset bayonet mount. The offset pin placement is a deliberate fitment control, as it prevents the bulb from being inserted in the wrong orientation, ensuring each filament connects to its correct circuit.
Because the BAY15d base uses offset pins, it is not interchangeable with single-pin bayonet bases such as the BA15s, even though the physical housing may appear similar in size.
The consistent use of the 1157 across the entire 1970-1998 span of the Ford F-700 indicates no change in the license plate bulb specification throughout the vehicle's listed production range.