Ford Zephyr License Plate Bulb Size

The Ford Zephyr license plate light requires bulb size 57 or 63 depending on the specific application. Data for the lighting components covers the period from 1952 through 1961.

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
1959-1961	57 (MK II)
1952-1958	63

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 1W.	57
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 0.63W.	63

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Ford Zephyr license plate bulb specifications cover the 1952-1961 model years, with two distinct bulb types used across that span.
The bulb 63 is an ANSI-standard single-filament type with a BA9s base, rated at 12V and 0.63W, and it fits the 1952-1958 model years.
The bulb 57 is also an ANSI-standard single-filament type with a BA9s base, rated at 12V and 1W, and it applies to the 1959-1961 MK II model years.
Both bulb types share the BA9s bayonet base, a small-format single-pin base commonly associated with low-wattage indicator and license plate lighting applications.
Although the 57 and 63 share the same base type, their wattage ratings differ. The 57 draws 1W while the 63 draws 0.63W, which represents a meaningful difference in power consumption for a circuit designed around a specific load.
Substituting a bulb 57 in a socket specified for the bulb 63 would introduce a higher current draw than the original circuit was rated for, as the 57 consumes roughly 59 percent more power than the 63.
Both bulb types carry ANSI designations valid for the US and Canadian markets, indicating conformance to a standardized specification for those regions.
The MK II designation appears exclusively in the 1959-1961 entries, indicating a distinct variant of the Ford Zephyr that corresponds to the bulb 57 fitment.