The Familia AP (323 in most of the world, GLC for "Great Little Car" in North America) debuted in January 1977 as a rear-wheel-drive subcompact, replacing both the Grand Familia (818) and the preceding Familia (1000/1300).
There was a choice of hatchbacks and station wagon bodies, both available with a three- or five-door bodystyle.
The station wagon version was a bit later, first being introduced in June 1978, which also meant that the commercial versions based on the 1970 Familia could finally be retired.
Three Mazda engines were available, the 985 cc PC, 1,272 cc TC, and the 1415 cc UC (introduced in March 1978).
The 1.0-liter unit was only made for export markets.
The new Familia shared many parts with the older Mazda Grand Familia.
This was the first appearance of the 323 name, for export markets only.

The Familia AP was marketed to a new kind of youthful Japanese consumer, and sold very well at home as well as abroad.
Nonetheless, the cars traditional rear-wheel-drive underpinnings limited interior space and betrayed themselves in having a very narrow track when compared to the body.
The FA4 was somewhat of an interim solution while MAzda worked on a front-wheel-drive car, but still managed to sell around 890,000 examples in its three full years of production.

In June 1979 the 323/Familia underwent a facelift, replacing the previous round headlights with rectangular units which were designed as a single unit along with the grille.
The new style was in line with that of the recently released Mazda Capella/626 (CB).
Other minor differences occurred along with the facelift.

The range was replaced in 1980, however, the station wagon models continued in production until 1986.

The FA4-series Familia/323 was available in several body variants:
Five-door four-seat hatchback
Three-door four-seat hatchback
Five-door four-seat station wagon (also as a van in Japan)
Three-door four-seat station wagon
Three-door two-seat van with an extended roof profile
Several of these were available in multiple trim levels.

Engines:
1.0 L PC, 45 PS (33 kW; 44 hp) / 51 lb⋅ft (69 N⋅m) – export only
1.3 L TC (1977.01–1980) 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp) / 72 PS (53 kW) in Japan
1.4 L UC (1978.03–1980) 83 PS (61 kW) in Japan
In Australia the 1.3 had 45 kW (61 PS; 60 hp) at 5700 rpm while the bigger 1.4, introduced in July 1978, offered 48 kW (65 PS; 64 hp) at a somewhat lower engine speed of 5500 rpm.
The 1.4 was accompanied by the new, better-equipped CS model which was only available with five-door bodywork.

Van engines:
1.3 L TC (1978.06–1986) 85 PS (63 kW) JIS (1979), 73 PS (54 kW) JIS (net, later years), 60 PS (44 kW) DIN (export models)
1.4 L UC (1978.06–1986) 85 PS (63 kW) JIS (1979), 76 PS (56 kW) JIS (net, later years)
1.5 L E5 (1982.10–1986) 70 PS (51 kW) (DIN, wagon/van only)
A five-speed manual gearbox was introduced later as an alternative to the original four-speed manual gearbox.
At the same time the original 7-inch (178 mm) round sealed beam headlights were replaced with square sealed beam units on all models except the van, together with a general styling and mechanical upgrade.
A three-speed automatic gearbox was also available on the bigger engined models, it was first introduced (on the 1400) at the end of June 1978.

When the next generation front-wheel-drive Familia/323/GLC models were released in 1980, the wagon and van models continued unchanged, due to Mazda not developing wagon models for the newer range.
A facelift however was given to the wagons in 1981, which gave the models the front clip (albeit with different bumpers) of the front-wheel-drive models.
Production of the wagons continued to 1986, when a new front-wheel-drive model was introduced.
Originally available with the 1.3- TC and 1.4-liter UC engines, in export markets the larger unit was replaced with the new 1.5-liter E5 engine for the 1983 model year.

North America
For the United States, the GLC, advertised as the Great Little Car, was only offered with one engine at a time.
The new GLC overlapped with the old-style Mizer for part of 1977 and was produced through 198
The Familia AP (323 in most of the world, GLC for "Great Little Car" in North America) debuted in January 1977 as a rear-wheel-drive subcompact, replacing both the Grand Familia (818) and the preceding Familia (1000/1300). There was a choice of hatchbacks and station wagon bodies, both available with a three- or five-door bodystyle. The station wagon version was a bit later, first being introduced in June 1978, which also meant that the commercial versions based on the 1970 Familia could finally be retired. Three Mazda engines were available, the 985 cc PC, 1,272 cc TC, and the 1415 cc UC (introduced in March 1978). The 1.0-liter unit was only made for export markets. The new Familia shared many parts with the older Mazda Grand Familia. This was the first appearance of the 323 name, for export markets only.
The Familia AP was marketed to a new kind of youthful Japanese consumer, and sold very well at home as well as abroad. Nonetheless, the cars traditional rear-wheel-drive underpinnings limited interior space and betrayed themselves in having a very narrow track when compared to the body. The FA4 was somewhat of an interim solution while MAzda worked on a front-wheel-drive car, but still managed to sell around 890,000 examples in its three full years of production.
In June 1979 the 323/Familia underwent a facelift, replacing the previous round headlights with rectangular units which were designed as a single unit along with the grille. The new style was in line with that of the recently released Mazda Capella/626 (CB). Other minor differences occurred along with the facelift.
The range was replaced in 1980, however, the station wagon models continued in production until 1986.
The FA4-series Familia/323 was available in several body variants:
Five-door four-seat hatchback
Three-door four-seat hatchback
Five-door four-seat station wagon (also as a van in Japan)
Three-door four-seat station wagon
Three-door two-seat van with an extended roof profile
Several of these were available in multiple trim levels.
Engines:
1.0 L PC, 45 PS (33 kW; 44 hp) / 51 lb⋅ft (69 N⋅m) – export only
1.3 L TC (1977.01–1980) 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp) / 72 PS (53 kW) in Japan
1.4 L UC (1978.03–1980) 83 PS (61 kW) in Japan
In Australia the 1.3 had 45 kW (61 PS; 60 hp) at 5700 rpm while the bigger 1.4, introduced in July 1978, offered 48 kW (65 PS; 64 hp) at a somewhat lower engine speed of 5500 rpm. The 1.4 was accompanied by the new, better-equipped CS model which was only available with five-door bodywork.
Van engines:
1.3 L TC (1978.06–1986) 85 PS (63 kW) JIS (1979), 73 PS (54 kW) JIS (net, later years), 60 PS (44 kW) DIN (export models)
1.4 L UC (1978.06–1986) 85 PS (63 kW) JIS (1979), 76 PS (56 kW) JIS (net, later years)
1.5 L E5 (1982.10–1986) 70 PS (51 kW) (DIN, wagon/van only)
A five-speed manual gearbox was introduced later as an alternative to the original four-speed manual gearbox. At the same time the original 7-inch (178 mm) round sealed beam headlights were replaced with square sealed beam units on all models except the van, together with a general styling and mechanical upgrade. A three-speed automatic gearbox was also available on the bigger engined models, it was first introduced (on the 1400) at the end of June 1978.
When the next generation front-wheel-drive Familia/323/GLC models were released in 1980, the wagon and van models continued unchanged, due to Mazda not developing wagon models for the newer range. A facelift however was given to the wagons in 1981, which gave the models the front clip (albeit with different bumpers) of the front-wheel-drive models. Production of the wagons continued to 1986, when a new front-wheel-drive model was introduced. Originally available with the 1.3- TC and 1.4-liter UC engines, in export markets the larger unit was replaced with the new 1.5-liter E5 engine for the 1983 model year.
North America
For the United States, the GLC, advertised as the Great Little Car, was only offered with one engine at a time. The new GLC overlapped with the old-style Mizer for part of 1977 and was produced through 198
Mazda Familia