I have that model, and almost the whole first set, mine is dated 1983 i think.....yours is the same as mine which is from later in the run. You might have noticed that the labels on the top of the hood, and around the Rugulator are rough and textured. The first of these had smooth glossy labels, and the one over the headlight lit up.....here's a pic of the model right above the cream one, the difference was this one had the triple filter cloth bag, with a mock boxtop topper....and a one speed switch in the top of the handle instead of the step on in the hood.....notice the glossy label and the light up logo

the one of the left is a 1982 model and the one on the right is a 1980 model....both with the light up logo...

My rust, the TOL (Top of the line ) Self Propelled. This was The two speed, and had a swivel upper cord hook, more amprage than the blue....I love mine (mines dated 1986 BTW) but mine is a late with the rough label.... I would have rather had the light up model of that particular one....you know, you gotta take what you can get....

First did, that means yours was most certainly a 1978 model....

3 im my time of collecting, counting yours....ive seen another dated 78 with the triple filer cloth, since i was quoted the 1978 was the introduction, im saying only the first years worth maybe....Do you still have it?...and could you check the date?

and i found this one also with the early vinyl bag in the TOL rust model. Notice the switch in the base next to the Regulator. I read in the manual that was to compensate for the High ESP speed. I guess in the beginning they thought the two speed model would be to much for the tranny on high speed....but they decided they didn't need it. That another little trademark of the first SP....or the first two speed anyway....