In a separate thread, I asked about how to identify a 1979 Speedmaster. I’ve got a separate question, though. Why does it seem like Speedmasters from 1979 are so thin on the ground?

It seems like the 1980s examples are plentiful, as are earlier examples. Is it just that the folks who bought 1979 examples are holding on to them, or that there was less production at the time?