Ford Zodiac License Plate Bulb Size

The Ford Zodiac license plate light uses bulb sizes 57 and 63 according to the provided data. Information for the lighting components covers the period from 1955 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)
1955-1958	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 Zodiac license plate position uses two distinct bulb types across its 1955-1961 model years: the type 57 and the type 63, both classified under ANSI standards applicable to the US and Canadian markets.
Both the type 57 and type 63 are single-filament bulbs sharing the BA9s bayonet base, a miniature single-contact base with a 9mm cap body commonly found in low-intensity indicator and illumination applications.
The type 57 operates at 12V with a rated power of 1W, while the type 63 operates at the same 12V but draws only 0.63W, making the two bulbs electrically distinct despite their shared base type.
Because the type 57 and type 63 share the BA9s base, one is physically interchangeable with the other in terms of fitment, though their differing wattage ratings mean they are not electrically equivalent replacements.
The Ford Zodiac MK II, covering model years 1959-1961, is specified exclusively for the type 57 bulb in the license plate position.
Model years 1955-1958 use the type 63 bulb, which at 0.63W represents a lower power draw than the type 57 adopted in the subsequent MK II generation.
The BA9s base designation indicates a bayonet-style cap with a 9mm body, a format associated with small-format automotive lighting rather than primary illumination sources such as headlamps or fog lamps.
Single-filament construction in both bulb types means each serves a single lighting function with no provision for dual-intensity operation, consistent with the straightforward illumination role of a license plate lamp.