Oldsmobile 442 License Plate Bulb Size

The Oldsmobile 442 license plate light uses bulb sizes 97 and 1155 for the rear illumination area. Data for the specific components covers the time range from 1964 to 1971.

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
1965-1971	97
1964	1155

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	97
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 21W.	1155

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Oldsmobile 442 uses two distinct bulb types across its model years for the license plate position: the 97 and the 1155.
The 97 bulb is the dominant fitment, covering the 1965-1971 model years of the 442.
Both the 97 and the 1155 are ANSI-standardized bulbs recognized in the United States and Canada, and both share the BA15s single-contact bayonet base.
The BA15s base is a single-contact bayonet fitting, meaning the bulb seats and locks with a push-and-twist motion against one electrical contact point at the base tip.
Both bulbs are single-filament designs, which is typical for non-switching lighting functions such as license plate illumination.
Both the 97 and the 1155 are classified as variants of the 1156 bulb family, indicating a shared physical form factor within that lineage.
Despite the shared base and family classification, the 97 and the 1155 differ in wattage: the 97 operates at 13W while the 1155 operates at 21W, both on a 12V system.
The 1964 442 uses the 1155 bulb, which draws notably more power than the 97 used in subsequent years, a relevant consideration for socket and wiring compatibility.
Because the 97 and the 1155 share the BA15s base, physical installation between the two is possible, but the wattage difference means they are not electrically interchangeable without accounting for the load difference.