Volkswagen Karmann Ghia License Plate Bulb Size

The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia license plate light utilizes 97, 89, and 63 bulb sizes depending on the specific production period. Available information covers the span from 1958 through 1974.

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
1969-1974	97
1967-1968	89
1958-1966	63

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. Lower wattage variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	89
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 0.63W.	63

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia uses three distinct license plate bulb sizes across its 1958-1974 model range: the 63, 89, and 97.
The bulb 63 is the most widely used across this range, fitted to the Karmann Ghia from 1958-1966. It is an ANSI-standard single-filament bulb rated at 12V and 0.63W, mounted on a BA9s base.
The BA9s base on the 63 bulb is a miniature bayonet cap smaller than the BA15s found on the 89 and 97 bulbs, making the 63 physically incompatible with sockets designed for either of those two types.
The 89 and 97 bulbs both share the BA15s bayonet base and a 12V, 13W rating, and both are described as variants of the 1156. Despite these similarities, they carry different ANSI designations and are listed as separate fitments for the 1967-1968 and 1969-1974 model years respectively.
The BA15s base is a single-contact bayonet fitting with a 15mm cap width, standard across a wide range of automotive lighting applications.
The 1967-1968 Karmann Ghia uses the 89 bulb, while the 1969-1974 model years use the 97. Both share identical voltage and wattage ratings, but substitution between them should be confirmed against socket and housing compatibility before use.
The 63 bulb operates at 0.63W, a substantially lower power draw than the 13W rating of the 89 and 97 bulbs, reflecting a different circuit and socket design in the earlier model years.