I have one of these babies, a 2001. I think it's the only OOP color of the Classic Series 50's strats. Hopefully that will make it more valuable in the future since they seem to have a good reputation. It's a great guitar. Twice as nice when it's been setup!

The last Frontline catalog I have that lists Dakota Red as available on the MIM '50s Classic Strat is 2002. It's not shown in the 2005 edition and I cannot seem to find my '03 and '04 volumes at the moment. Thus, either of those missing years represents that color's swan song -- at least for the moment (Fender periodically "recycles" its palette of finish colors so it's entirely possible that shade will reappear again in the future).

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Here's the guitar you're talking about:

@Thriftstorepunk77: does your neck plate have the "Fender Custom Shop Designed" on it?

I think I just got one of these from 1999 but didn't realize they made them in this color.

Thanks!

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1999 Classic Series '50 Stratocaster / Dakota Red
2006 Reverse Stratocaster / Olympic White
2009 Road Worn '50s Stratocaster / 2-Tone Sunburst
A bakers dozen acoustic guitars, most pre-war

Well here is something you don't see everyday, someone with an answer on a Fender who's name is not Retroverbial ...and The MIM 50's Classic Strat shows Dakota Red for both '03 and '04...according to the Fender Frontlines for those years...so looks like '04 was the last year for that finish...for now at least.

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.