LA4 929L

Bigger, roomier and very American looking with its ugly stacked headlights, protruding grille and bulky square styling, the 929L marched upmarket.

New coil-spring rear suspension meant that the handling and ride improved markedly, while the interior was surprisingly European in flavour. The engine grew to a 64kW 2.0L unit, the 3-speed auto and 4-speed manual gearboxes were carried over, and equipment levels rose.

The coupe disappeared, while a new wagon from May ’79 proved popular. In February ’80 a comprehensive upgrade saw a Mercedes-like nose cone, new taillights, better handling, more features and new interior trim.

And in the usual Mazda fashion, the wagon lived on – with a new grille, upgraded equipment levels, a revised 61kW 2.0L engine and 5-speed manual gearbox option from February ’82 – through to the following HB 929 generation’s demise in the middle of ’87.