Summary of 1st Generation RX-7 US/Canada Model Differences

Begin End Model Description
1979 S Base model. Initial US MSRP: $6,395. 12A engine. 4-speed. Drum rear brakes. Steel wheels.
1979 GS Up model. Initial US MSRP $6,995. 5-speed. Mags. Rear torsion bar. Electric hatch release. 4-spoke steering wheel. Optional sunroof.
1980 1980 LS GS with black paint, gold painted mags, electric mirrors, leather. 3,000 produced.
1981 S No more 4-speed. Fuel capacity increased. Space saver spare. Licence tag moved under bumper. Soft bumper faces. Electric fuel filler cover release.
1981 GS Sunroof now optional.
1981 GSL Includes disk rear brakes, limited slip diff., leather interior, electric windows, sunroof.
1983 (all) Keylock removed from gas filler. 130 MPH speedometer (US). Single windshield squirter replaced by dual.
1983 1983 LE Champagne silver paint. 14" wheels.
1984 (all) Brake vents added to air dam. 140 MPH speedometer (US). Significantly altered interior. Automatic transmision now 4-speed. Lower rear control arms' front mounting points lowered 20 mm to provide some roll understeer.
1984 GSL Leather interior no longer standard. 4-speed automatic optional. Buttons instead of levers for air control.
1984 GSL-SE GSL w/ no choke knob in dash, plus driveline differences: EGI 6-port 13B engine. 14" wheels. Bigger brakes. Better oil cooler. Optimized gearing. No automatic.
1985 All other

Mazda has never published any meaning for the letters used in the model names, but what follows are some commonly assumed meanings for the letters:

R Rotary
X eXport
7 7
G Gran(d)
S Sport or Special
L Luxury or Limited
SE Special Edition
More Other Mazda & rotary acronyms

Felix's Home
Last Modified 2002/12/05 © Felix Miata