Pontiac Grand Safari License Plate Bulb Size

The Pontiac Grand Safari license plate light requires bulb sizes 194, 168, or 97 depending on the specific application. Data for the lighting components covers the range from 1971 to 1978.

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
1978	194
1977	168
1974-1976	194
1971-1973	97

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	97

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Pontiac Grand Safari license plate bulb specifications span model years 1971 through 1978, covering three distinct bulb types across that range.
The 194 bulb is the most frequently specified type, appearing in the 1974-1976 and 1978 model years. It is an ANSI-standard miniature wedge bulb in the T10 form factor, rated at 12V and 3.78W.
The 97 bulb is specified for the 1971-1973 model years. Unlike the T10 wedge types used in later years, it uses a BA15s bayonet base and is a single-filament design rated at 12V and 13W, making it significantly higher in wattage than the other bulbs in these specifications.
The 168 bulb is specified exclusively for the 1977 model year. It shares the same T10 wedge form factor as the 194 but operates at a higher wattage of 4.9W versus 3.78W.
Although the 194 and 168 are both T10 miniature wedge bulbs, their wattage ratings differ. This distinction is relevant to fitment, as the two types are not always interchangeable despite sharing a physical base style.
The 97 bulb is noted as a variant of the 1156, but the BA15s bayonet base design represents a fundamentally different mounting system from the wedge base used in the 194 and 168, making cross-substitution between these groups physically incompatible.
All three bulb types in these specifications conform to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.
The shift from the BA15s bayonet-based 97 bulb in 1971-1973 to the T10 wedge-based 194 in 1974 reflects a change in socket type, meaning components from the earlier and later model year groups are not interchangeable.