It's a mystery T600/ mystery solved.

[letsbike]

I can't figure this one out. This T600 showed up on Facebook Marketplace. The T600 only was available for one year according to catalogs (1992). However, when you look for that year only a Champaign color was listed. The barely visible head badge says 1990-1996. The closest looking "T600" graphic, which is rather distinctive, looks to me like the 1994 model year. The color is a match too. Yet no T600 is listed in that year's catalog. It's a mystery!!

 

[letsbike]

What year is this graphic?

 

[IdahoBrett]

Could it have been a European model brought to the US at some time in its life?

 

[black lightning 1987]

I can't see the graphic well enough. My guess is that it's an alternate color that was introduced after the catalog came out. I didn't go beyond the 1994 catalog, but I think 1992 may have been the last year for down tube shifters on the touring bikes. After that they generally had bar cons.

 

[letsbike]

I am so intrigued that I am thinking of contacting the seller to get the serial number, and maybe a back story. My 1997 T500 had down tube shifters.
I think that it easy to think that every bicycle was sold in a bike shop in a given year, but in actuality Cannondale had programs to buy bicycle frames, and there were frames given away as warranty claims, and who knows what else.
Brett's explanation seems plausible, as does Black Lightning suggestion that it's a mid year color change. The components and model number graphic are pointing to 1992.

 

[letsbike]

Okay, the other two 1992 T600 bicycles shown in the gallery are blue. Lesson learned; don't take the catalogs as 100% accurate. Sorry for the drama.
I wonder if any production bikes were ever painted the Champaign color? I think it looks good.

 

[IdahoBrett]

The champaign color would be very unique. I agree it does look good.

 

[black lightning 1987]

I'd guess there are some out there in Champagne. I don't see any other models that used the color. Seems unlikely that they would have painted only one frame for the catalog, then discarded the color.

 

[letsbike]

It would be great to have an interview with someone who was in the know of how Corporate and marketing decisions were made during Cannondale's heyday. I think that anyone who has a passion for this bicycle brand would like to hear the back story.

 

[black lightning 1987]

I agree. I have heard that folks currently at Cannondale use this site but I have not noticed any postings that mention it. I've always wished we had some participation from employees, especially those from the USA years who could answer questions about specifications and paint.