Oldsmobile Super 88 Back Up Light Bulb Size

The Oldsmobile Super 88 back up light utilizes 1156, 1073, and P21W bulb sizes depending on the specific application. Provided data covers the range from 1953 to 1964.

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
1964	1156
1963	1073
1960-1962	1156
1959	1073
1958	1156
1953-1957	1073

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 21W.	1156
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Lower wattage variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	1073

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The two bulb types specified for the Oldsmobile Super 88 backup lights across all listed model years are the 1156 and the 1073, both of which are ANSI-standardized bulbs recognized in the United States and Canada.
Both the 1156 and 1073 are single-filament bulbs, meaning each serves a dedicated on/off function without a secondary filament for dimming or dual-intensity operation.
Both bulb types share the BA15s bayonet base, a single-contact bayonet mount with a 15mm base width, which means the physical socket interface is identical between the two types.
Despite sharing the same BA15s base, the 1156 and 1073 differ in wattage. The 1156 operates at 21W, while the 1073 operates at 13W, making the two types electrically distinct and not directly interchangeable without consideration of that difference.
Both bulb types operate on a 12V electrical system, consistent with the standard automotive voltage used across the Super 88's production years covered in these specifications.
The Oldsmobile Super 88 used the 1156 bulb for the 1958, 1960-1962, and 1964 model years, and the 1073 bulb for the 1953-1957, 1959, and 1963 model years.
Because the 1073 is a lower-wattage variant of the 1156 and both share the BA15s base, physical installation of either into the same socket is possible, though the wattage difference means output and electrical load would not be equivalent.