The Motorola MC6800 8-bit microprocessor was announced in March 1974 and shipments of the M6800 family of MPU, RAM, ROM and peripherals began in December 1974. The L suffix indicates a ceramic package; the P suffix was for a plastic package. This chip was produced in the 11th week of 1977.

• "Motorola joins microprocessor race with 8-bit entry", Electronics (McGraw-Hill), 47 (5), pp. 29-30, March 7, 1974.
• "Microcomputer system runs on one 5-V supply", Electronics (McGraw-Hill), 47 (26), pp. 114-115, December 26, 1974. "Motorola's M6800 microcomputer system … is moving out of the sampling stage and into full production."