Ford Mustang License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Ford Mustang license plate bulb specifications span model years 1964 through 2002, with three distinct bulb types used across that period: the 168, 97, and 1155.
• The 168 bulb is the most widely specified type across the Ford Mustang license plate fitment data, covering model years 1979-1983 and 1987-1998, as well as 2002.
• The 168 is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 4.9W, conforming to ANSI standards for the US and Canadian markets. Its wedge base design means it requires no separate socket retainer, as the bulb body itself locks into the housing.
• The 97 bulb is specified for the Ford Mustang for model years 1968-1973. It is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 13W, and is classified as a variant of the 1156 bulb family.
• The 1155 bulb is specified for model years 1964-1967. Like the 97, it uses a BA15s bayonet base and single-filament construction, but is rated at a higher 21W output while operating at the same 12V.
• Although the 97 and 1155 share the same BA15s bayonet base type and both belong to the 1156 variant family, their wattage ratings differ substantially, at 13W and 21W respectively, which makes them non-interchangeable despite the physical base similarity.
• The transition from the 1155 to the 97 between the 1967 and 1968 model years represents a reduction in license plate bulb wattage from 21W to 13W, while retaining the same base format.
• The subsequent transition from the 97 to the 168 between the 1973 and 1979 model years also involved a change in base type, moving from the BA15s bayonet format to the T10 wedge format, alongside a significant reduction in wattage from 13W to 4.9W.