The Canon A-1 was produced from April of 1978 to 1985. The Canon AE-1 program was produced from 1981 to 1987. Canon always put the serial number on these bodies. Canon seemed to milk their 'A' series gold mine to death and of course more A body variants but these three I mentioned seem to be the most readily available.
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The Canon AE-1 is a 35 mm single lens reflex (SLR) film camera. This camera is for use with interchangeable lenses. It was produced by Canon Camera K. (knowns as Canon Incorporated today) in Japan 1976. Canon AE-1 has an electromagnet horizontal and electronically controlled cloth focal plane shutter with a speed range of 2 to 1/1000 second.
Intro: Canon’s AE-1, released in 1976, and the subsequent AE-1 Program, released in 1981, are cult classics in the crowded SLR market. Touted as the world’s first camera equipped with a microprocessor, it gave photographers the option to use Shutter Speed Priority exposure mode, rather than the usual Aperture Priority.

Modern Classic SLR Series
Canon AE-1 Program - Index Page

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“AE-1,” the Pioneer of Automated and Computerized Camera, Leading to the “New F-1,” the Advanced Camera System. During the first Oil Shock in 1973, Japan suffered from hyper-inflation, and it was said that the salary of Canon’s employees rose over 35% for two consecutive years.

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Canon AE-1 Program, 1981

Five years after the original AE-1 was introduced, Canon brought out an excellent upgraded version in 1981, known as the AE-1 Program or AE-1P in short. The AE-1 Program was considered as one of the two most elegant looking A series bodies (the other was the Canon A-1 in 1977).

The AE-1 Program was certainly a worthy successor. It was packed with improved features, which were not found in its predecessor. Among the features was the Programmed AE, (first debut in the A-1) in addition to the Shutter-priority AE and manual override modes. It also has eight user interchangeable focusing screens, using the new laser matte types as well as some with extra bright laser matte technology developed for the flagship model, the New Canon F-1. It has a new, dedicated Power Winder A2 that has additional remote capability, but the camera still accepts the older Winder A and can even share the Canon A-1's Motor Drive MA for up to 4 fps burst rate for action photography.
Canon FDnlenses. | Early versions of FD lenses

Credit: Image courtesy of Mr. Joe Westerberg® from Palm Springs, CA U.S.A.. who is a collector for various photo gear, he also has an Ebay Section where occasionally trading some photo equipment. he sent me this image along with another of the Minolta X-700 It also accepts most of the accessories within the FD system, including Data Back A, macro accessories, A and G-type of Canon Speedlites for fully automated flash photography. All FD, New FD and FL lenses are usable with the AE-1P. Full aperture metering is only possible with the FD and New FD lenses. Stopped-down metering with the FL lenses.

As with the Canon A-1, the AE-1 Program was indeed, very popular and well received by consumers. Although there were some minor shortfalls in its design to make it a true classic, it was still a worthy camera among its class during the years of its availability, from early to the mid-80s.

'... The AE-1 Program was my first ever 35mm SLR camera. Originally, I had wanted to buy the AE-1 but found it was more expensive than the AE-1 Program. I don't know why this was the case (back in 1983) but later, I found out that particular AE-1 was from an old batch that was brought in when cameras in Malaysia were still subjected to import duties (abolished in 1981 and all the photographic equipments are duty free in Malaysia now) while the AE-1 Program was from later batches that were cheaper.' - Kai Pin -

Obviously, the AE-

Canon Ae 1 Years