Ford LTD License Plate Bulb Size

The Ford LTD license plate component utilizes unique bulb sizes 168, 194, 90, 97, and 1155 across various production versions. Available information covers the specific time range from 1965 through 1986.

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
1984-1986	168
1982-1983	194
1979-1981	168
1978	194
1977	168
1975-1976	194
1973-1974	90
1968-1972	97
1965-1967	1155

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 13W.	90
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. Variant of 1156. 12V, 21W.	1155

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Ford LTD license plate bulb specifications span 1965 to 1986, covering four distinct bulb types across that period: the 168, 194, 90, 97, and 1155.
The 168 bulb is the most frequently specified across the Ford LTD lineup, appearing in seven model years: 1979-1981, 1984-1986, and 1977. It is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 4.9W, conforming to ANSI standards for the US and Canada.
The 194 bulb shares the same T10 miniature wedge form factor as the 168 but operates at a lower wattage of 3.78W on a 12V circuit. Despite their physical similarity, the wattage difference means the two are not electrically identical.
The Ford LTD (1982-1983) uses the 194 bulb, while the adjacent years 1981 and 1984 use the 168. Both are T10 wedge bulbs, but substituting one for the other changes the wattage output at the license plate position.
The 97 bulb, specified for the Ford LTD from 1968 to 1972, uses a BA15s single-contact bayonet base and is rated at 12V and 13W. It is classified as a variant of the 1156 bulb type.
The 90 bulb, used in 1973-1974, also carries a BA15s bayonet base at 12V and 13W, placing it in the same base family as the 97. However, the two are distinct ANSI designations and are not listed as interchangeable within these specifications.
The 1155 bulb, specified for 1965-1967, is the highest-wattage bulb in this set at 21W on a 12V circuit. It also uses a BA15s bayonet base and is a variant of the 1156, but its wattage is substantially higher than both the 90 and 97 types.
The BA15s bayonet base is common to the 90, 97, and 1155 bulb types used across the 1965-1974 model years, though the wattage ratings differ significantly among them, ranging from 13W to 21W.
The transition from BA15s bayonet-base bulbs to T10 miniature wedge bulbs in the Ford LTD occurred between the 1974 and 1975 model years, reflecting a shift in the base type used at the license plate position.
All five bulb types in these specifications conform to ANSI standards applicable in both the United States and Canada, indicating standardized electrical and physical ratings across the listed fitments.