Lincoln Continental License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The bulb size 168 is the most frequently specified license plate bulb across the Lincoln Continental's model history, covering the 1974 and 1977-1979 model years as well as the continuous span from 1982-2002, with the sole exception of 1995. It is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 4.9W, conforming to ANSI standards for the US and Canadian markets.
• The 12961 bulb, specified for the Lincoln Continental (2017-2018), is a Philips-branded part rather than an ANSI-designated bulb. It shares the T10 wedge form factor and W2.1x9.5d base with the 168, and operates at 12V with a rated output of 5W, making it the highest-wattage T10 wedge type in these specifications.
• The T10 wedge form factor is represented by four distinct bulb numbers across these specifications: the 12961, 168, 194, and 158. These share the same physical base type but differ in wattage, ranging from 3W for the 158 up to 5W for the 12961.
• The BA15s single-contact bayonet base is the second major base type present in these specifications, represented by bulb numbers 67, 90, 97, 631, and 1155. All are described as variants or lower-wattage relatives of the 1156 bulb family, with wattages ranging from 8W to 21W.
• The 1155 bulb, a 12V, 21W BA15s single-filament type, was specified for the Lincoln Continental across the 1963-1967 model years. At 21W, it and the 631 represent the highest-wattage bulbs in these license plate specifications, a notably high output for a license plate application by later standards.
• The 67 bulb, an 8W BA15s single-filament type, was specified for the 1958-1962 model years. It is described as a lower-wattage variant of the 1156 and sits at the lower end of the BA15s wattage range present in these specifications.
• The 90 bulb, a 12V, 13W BA15s single-filament type, was specified for the 1975-1976 model years. The 97 bulb shares the same voltage and wattage rating and the same BA15s base, but the two carry separate ANSI designations and were specified for different model years, indicating they are not interchangeable without verification.
• The 1891 bulb specified for the 1971 Lincoln Continental is a T5 miniature wedge type rated at 12V and 2W, making it the smallest and lowest-wattage bulb in these specifications. The T5 form factor is physically smaller than the T10 wedge types and is not interchangeable with them.
• The 1995 Lincoln Continental is specified with a 194 bulb rather than the 168 used in surrounding model years. Both are T10 wedge bulbs, but the 194 is rated at 3.78W versus the 168's 4.9W, and the two carry separate ANSI designations. Physical similarity between T10 wedge types does not confirm interchangeability across different ANSI numbers.
• The 1980 Lincoln Continental is specified with the 158 bulb, a 12V, 3W T10 wedge type, while the adjacent 1979 and 1982-2002 model years use the 168. The 158 and 168 share the T10 wedge base but differ in wattage, and their separate ANSI designations indicate they are distinct parts.