The Tech Specs
Work in constant progress - please feel free to E-mail me with info to add here
Here I will try to post as much of the specs for my 323 as well as all 1st gen 323s. This should also include special features(world wide) and differences between years and such.
What is this 323 called?
Something that's actually pretty confusing, but here's how it works:
USA - 1ST generation 323(using the 323 name) OR 5TH generation of the model like(goes like this:
'70-'71 R100
'72-'76 808
'77-'80 GLC(RWD)
'81-'84 GLC(FWD)
'85-'89 323
'90-'94 323/Protege
'95-'97 Protege
'98-'03 Protege)
Japan - 6TH generation Familia(The Familia ran in total from 1960-Now, 43 years, longest running model in the Mazda company)
Europe - 3rd? generation 323
Body
Types:
3 door Hatchback

4 door Sedan

4 door Wagon

5 door Hachback(not in US)

2 door Cabriolet(Based on the 3 door hatch, this car was only availible for a short time in Japan)

2 door fast-back(the Mazda Etude)

2 door pick-up truck(the Mazda Rustler)

Engine
(US)
Standard - 1.6 Liter SOHC Inline 4
HP - 82HP @ 5,000 RPM
Torque - 92 Ft. Lbs. @ 2,500 RPM
Redline - 6,000 RPM
GT/GTX - 1.6L DOHC Turbocharged Inline 4
HP - 132HP
Torque - 136Ft. Lbs
(Japan/Europe)
1.3 Liter SOHC Inline 4
1.5 Liter SOHC Inline 4
HP - 59hp @ 4,700 RPM
1.6 Liter SOHC Inline 4
1.6 Liter DOHC Inline 4
HP - 140hp @ 6,000 RPM
1.6 Liter SOHC Turbocharged Inline 4
1.7 Liter

Transmissions
4 Speed Automatic With Overdrive
4 Speed Manual
5 Speed Manual
Wheels
The 1st gen 323 in the US came with 3 wheel styles depending on trim level and year.
Standard wheels were 13" Steel wheels with centercaps.
The 323 LX came with 13" Alloy wheels, seen on my 323.
The 323 GT/GTX came with 14" alloy wheels.

Other countries had 323s with the US '83-'87 626 LX 14" polished alloy wheels.

Interior features
There were 3 types of gauge clusters:
Speedometer with large fuel and temp gauges, no tachometer. This cluster was found most 323 base model and SE, regardless of transmission.
Speedometer with Tach, found on 323 LX, GT, GT-X.
Digital Cluster, found on a very small number of US GTs/GT-Xs, also found in Canada & Europe.

Seats:
Vinyl(base model)
Tweed(SE)
Striped Velour(LX)
Striped Cloth(GT/GT-X)
Also, driver's hieght adjust was availible on LXs(possibly GT/GT-X)(I have this feature).

Special Features
Adjustable Suspension - Availible on GT/GTXs
Hatchback Wiper - Availible on '87 LX hatches(and possibly some of those 5 door models)
Factory Mazda grill w/driving/fog lights - Availible in Europe.
Body color bumpers - Availible on '89 323s(I believe) and GT/GTX.
Body color grill - '89 323s/GT/GTX
The Twins
The Mercury Tracer(of the same 1st gen 323 years) was identical to the 323. It had different seats and interior luxuries.
South Africa - They seem to not beable to move on from the '80s, and they still have 2 versions of the 323, the Mazda Stinger(a 323 5 door) and the Mazda Ruster(a 323 pick-up truck).
Mercury Capri from the late '80s, based on the BF platform.
Mazda Columbia is still manufacturing the BF 323 in 3 door, sedan, and 5 door form. If I could only drive to Columbia...

What Mazda says. This section is for what Mazda said about the 323/Familia.
Off of the Mazda Japan History site about the 6th gen 323/Familia:
Generation 6 -- Refinement and Variation.

Translation of:
http://www.mazda.co.jp/history/familia/history/history6.html
by Natsuki Hasegawa

The 6th gen Familia was released in showa 60th(1985), January. From late 1970s to the 80s the Japanese car shares in North America was growing, and the Big three's were falling, led to the Japanese government introducing its voluntary restriction on car exports. During the month of the introduction of the 6th gen, Mazda built a car factory in Flatrock, Michigan, in the United States. At that time in Japan, the car per home ratio was 2 per 3 homes.

The new Familia can be described as an evolution to the highly popular FF 5th gen. The first examples had the same body designs to the 5th gen, with 3 and 5 door hatchbacks, and a 4 door sedan. The FR wagon/van seen in the 5th gens were also added to the FF series. The design was based on the wedge-shape established by the FF Familia from previous versions, but with 'flash-surface' method to reduce bumps on the surface. The drag coefficient of the hatchback was Cd=0.35, one of the world's best of its class in its day.

The Mazda development team believed that motive qualities; such as handling, comfort and quietness were all based on the body, and so continued work on developing a rigid body. Later, Mazda was recognised for having some of the best, most rigid bodies in the world.

With changing lifestyles, the variations of Familia widened. To the 1300 and 1500cc SOHC line-up, a 1600cc DOHC 16 valve, a 1600cc DOHC 16 valve turbo, and also a 1700cc OHC diesel versions were added. The 6th gen was the first car in Japan to employ a fulltime 4 wheel drive system. The 4wd 3door hatchback and 4wd sedan released in showa 60th, Autumn, used a Yusei gear type centre differential fulltime 4wd, or a DOHC turbo engine with sports 4wd, or a 4wd 1500cc SOHC engine with 4wd. In motor sports scene, the completion of the Familia sports 4wd flagged the start of the entry into the WRC. In showa 62nd(1987) the Familia stood up well against the European big names, and placed 5th overall on Monte Carlo.

The most stylish Familias were born in this generation. The compact 4 seater cabriolet type cars current European makers are competing with, are examples of them. Equipped with roll bars and manual full opening tops, the Familia Cabriolet had a 1500cc SOHC turbo engine with a quick personality. The 3 layer structure soft-top ensured the comfort and weather proof ness of the driver. An optional resin sheet (aero-curtain) to reduce turbulence in the car was later evolved into the aero-board of the RX-7 Cabriolet. Lately, European compact cars and roadsters have started using similar items for reducing turbulence.
The 6th gen Familia received countless awards, starting with a Golden Steering award from a German car magazine. A significant achievement was in showa 63rd(1988) when the Swedish car testing group rated the Familia as the top car after 2 years use, and third for cars after 4 years use. This proved the Familia's high quality and reliability in such cold climates.