Just Purchased this vintage Cannondale?

[Gilliam]

Just bought this Cannondale 18" with rough cut decals.
I think the serial # indicates a manufacture date of January 1997 and it's got the correct head badge for that year. What model is this? It has SRT400 Grip shifts, Sun at-18 rims, Dia Compe brakes and Shimano STX derailleur. Seems to be either an M500 or H500 from that spec.
Can't find this fade color scheme in the catalog.

 

[black lightning 1987]

I believe you have the date of build right. I think the colors are Mango and Galaxy Blue (see the Super V 2000 in the 1997 catalog). Component spec is right on with the 1997 M500 - and those look like 26" x 2.1" tires from here. The H500 had much narrower 700C tires. Your bike is a bit of an anomaly from what usually turns up here as the only difference from catalog spec is the paint. Since you bought it used and presumably don't know the history there is the chance that the frame was replaced under warranty. I wish that I had some explanation as to why so many frames are painted in ways that don't appear in the catalogs, but we need input from people on the shop floor to answer those questions.

 

[chumaman]

M700/M300 LE- 1'' threaded stem..... 1'' steel fork...97/January serial
someone on the shift was very creative half Mango M700 half Galaxy Sky M300 LE