Ford Thunderbird Brake Bulb Size

The Ford Thunderbird brake component utilizes 1154, 1034, 1157, 2057, 3157, 3357, and 2458 bulb sizes depending on the specific vehicle configuration. Available information covers a range from 1955 through 2005 for the specified automotive lighting application.

The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.

Brake

Years	Bulb Size
2002-2005	3157
1997	3357
1995-1996	3157
1992-1994	3357
1987-1991	3157
1985-1986	1157
1983-1984	2057
1963-1982	1157
1956-1962	1034
1955	1154

Center High Mount Stop Light

Years	Bulb Size
1989-1997	921
1986-1988	912

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament wedge bulb (T25). 12V, 27W/7W.	3157
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament wedge bulb (T25). 12V, 27W.	3357
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. 12V, 21W/5W.	1157
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. Brighter variant of 1157. 12V, 26.9W/8W.	2057
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. Variant of 1157. 12V, 21/5W.	1034
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. Older variant of 1157. 6V/12V.	1154
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Wedge bulb (T15). 12V, 16W.	921
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Wedge bulb (T15). Variant of 921. 12V, 12W.	912

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Ford Thunderbird brake light specifications span model years 1955 through 2005, with three distinct bulb families represented across that range: the BAY15d bayonet-base group (1034, 1154, 1157, 2057), the T25 wedge group (3157, 3357), and the T15 wedge group (921, 912) used exclusively in the center high mount stop light.
The 1157 is the most frequently specified bulb across the entire dataset, covering the Ford Thunderbird from 1963 through 1986 for the brake light position. It is a dual-filament, BAY15d bayonet-base bulb rated at 12V with a 21W high filament and a 5W low filament.
The 3157 is the second most common bulb type in these specifications, appearing in the 1987-1991 and 2002-2005 model years. It is a dual-filament T25 wedge bulb rated at 12V, 27W/7W, and follows the ANSI standard for the US and Canada.
The 3357 is a single-filament T25 wedge bulb rated at 12V and 27W. It shares the same T25 wedge form factor as the 3157 but carries only one filament, and it was specified for the Thunderbird in 1992-1994 and 1997.
Because the 3357 is single-filament and the 3157 is dual-filament, the two bulbs are not functionally interchangeable despite sharing the same T25 wedge base, as substituting one for the other would affect circuit behavior in applications that rely on both filaments.
The 2057 was specified for the 1983-1984 model years. It uses the same BAY15d bayonet base as the 1157 but operates at higher wattages of 26.9W/8W, making it a brighter variant. Physical base compatibility does not guarantee electrical equivalence with the 1157.
The 1034 was specified for the 1956-1962 model years. It is a dual-filament BAY15d bayonet-base bulb rated at 12V, 21W/5W, placing it in the same general output class as the 1157, though the two are distinct ANSI part numbers.
The 1154 was specified solely for the 1955 model year. It is a dual-filament BAY15d bayonet-base bulb with a 6V/12V rating, distinguishing it from the other BAY15d variants in the dataset which are rated at 12V only.
The center high mount stop light, a federally mandated third brake light introduced on passenger cars from the mid-1980s onward, was specified for the Thunderbird from 1986 through 1997. The 912 bulb was used in 1986-1988, and the 921 was used in 1989-1997. Both are T15 wedge bulbs rated at 12V, with the 912 rated at 12W and the 921 at 16W.
The 921 and 912 are T15 wedge variants of each other and share the same base form, but their wattage difference of 16W versus 12W means they are not rated identically, and substitution between them would alter light output in the center high mount stop light position.