When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Does anyone know what GSL stands for? Or is it just a way to classify the cars?
its more of a way to classify the car than it means anything, but the L kind of stands for Limited (or leather). they wanted to add a model to feature the Leather introduced in 1980 and the rear discs. later they have the GSL-SE, which is like the SE-Limited...
in Japan, they have a similar model structure, but its, well see the chart. no idea why the US got different model names, the GLC used the JDM models
its more of a way to classify the car than it means anything, but the L kind of stands for Limited (or leather). they wanted to add a model to feature the Leather introduced in 1980 and the rear discs. later they have the GSL-SE, which is like the SE-Limited...
in Japan, they have a similar model structure, but its, well see the chart. no idea why the US got different model names, the GLC used the JDM models
my 85 gsl has cloth seats so id lean toward the limited for the "L" but maybe it was different for the s3's?
Not sure I've ever saw it in a Mazda publication but I've always believed that for the USD market, "S" was for Sport, "GS" was Grand Sport and "GSL" meant Grand Sport Luxury. Different trim and option levels. In 80, the leather interior was called the "LS" for Leather Sport. Was there another leather interior offered in 80?
Although both the JDM and USD cars had multiple levels, I don't believe any level was exactly the same across both markets. That could be part of the reason for the different nomenclature for the JDM and USD trim levels. Japan always seemed to have more options that took a year or two before trickling down to the US market.
Today, things are more likely to be standardized, to save costs. Back then, even the model name was unique to different markets. (Savanna vs. Rx-7)
1980
S
GS - Grand Sport
LS - Leather Sport
1981
S
GS
GSL
1983
LE - Limited Edition
1984
GSL-SE - Grand Sport Luxury - Special Edition (13B EFI plus wheel/suspension upgrades)
I reckon the "L" is meant to mean "Limited". Mazda has always called the luxury models "Limited" and they have never been "limited" in the true sense of the word.
For the JDM series 1 SA22C, GT-Limited and Limited were luxury spec, as noted above
For the JDM series 3 SA22C, GT was performance, GT-X was upgraded performance spec and SE-Limited was the luxury spec.
For the Australian series 3, the Sport was the base spec, the Deluxe was the mid spec, while the Limited was the luxury spec. 99% of cars sold here were Limited, so yeah, they weren't that limited at all.
This also continued the Limited nomenclature through the FC3S as well.
