While many references list the DACTA 1031 card set as being released in 1983, and the two teachers' resource sets (1030 and 1032) as being released in 1985, somehow those dates may be wrong. I want to think the 1030 and 1032 sets were released in the USA in 1983 as well if the associated card sets were.
The sets in question:
1030 Technic I: Simple Machines
1031 Building Cards (for the above)
1032 Technic II: Powered Machines
1033 Building Cards (for the above)
Being of the DACTA (now LEGO Educational) series, these were not available for general retail sale. I've reason to think any unopened boxes might command high dollars today.
The two building sets (1030 and 1032) seemed to be a precursor to the USA availability of the first three Universal Building Sets (8020, 8030 and 8050).
~Ben