Triumph Spitfire License Plate Bulb Size

The Triumph Spitfire license plate light requires bulb size 89 or 1895 depending on the specific application. Data for the bulb sizes covers the range from 1973 to 1980.

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 Type	Shop
1980	89	Check Price
1973-1975	1895	Check Price

Bulb Specifications

Description	Type	Shop
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Lower wattage variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	89	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T5). 12V, 0.9W.	1895	Check Price

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The 1895 bulb appears across the Triumph Spitfire's 1973-1975 model years as the specified license plate bulb, making it the more frequently listed type within these specifications.
The 1895 is an ANSI-standard miniature wedge bulb with a T5 form factor, rated at 12V and 0.9W, placing it among the lowest-wattage bulb types used in automotive lighting applications.
The 89 bulb is designated for the 1980 Triumph Spitfire and carries an ANSI rating for use in the US and Canada, operating at 12V and 13W through a single filament.
The 89 bulb uses a BA15s bayonet base, a single-contact fitting that physically differs from the wedge-style base of the 1895, meaning the two types are not interchangeable despite both being 12V bulbs.
The 89 is described as a lower-wattage variant of the 1156 bulb, sharing the same BA15s bayonet base but drawing significantly less power than the 1156's standard 26.88W output.
The wattage difference between the 89 (13W) and the 1895 (0.9W) reflects a fundamental difference in bulb construction, with the 89 using a filament-based single-contact design and the 1895 using a miniature wedge configuration.