KZ Production date vs Model year?

Gents,

I have a question regarding the date of my 650.
Does the date printed (sticker on frame) equal the model year or did Kawasaki produce vehicles in years prior to the actual release production model year?

I was looking at some pictures on my computer of the old '650 and found this one:



So is this bike a 1978, made in August of that year?
OR
Is it another model year, perhaps a 1979 or even later?

The reason I ask, is that in some research on the web, I found a site which states the paint colors available for the '650. Mine is (was) black tank and skins and according to some info, this color was not available on the KZ650C until 1980.

What's up with that? I seriously don't think this bike was repainted although I have little to go on but the duck bill visible under the rear luggage rack here:



Your thoughts and insight are welcomed

It was manufactured in 8/78 for the next model year, so what you have is a 1979 KZ 650 C3 model
Pete

Correct; it is a 1979 KZ650-C3. For verification take a look at the frame numbers in the link below. Ed

models.kz650.info/index.htm

Hmmm.

Thanks for that link Ed. If this matrix is true then my '650 was originally "Luminous Dark Blue".
Am I reading this correctly?
The sticker says - KZ650C-024602

Happily, I'll be making the trip up to the shop this week and plan to load the bike and boxes of parts in my truck and hauling it back to my garage for restoration. Should prove to be a rather lengthy recovery based on what I remember of the old gal.

Yea, luminous dark blue for a 1979C. Same exact color as the 1978 KZ650B2 and 1980 KZ650F1. Very few 79 650C out there in comparison. Here's a couple pictures of 1978B2 to get an idea of the color. The 3rd and 4th ones down from the top are two of my KZ650s in Luminous Dark Blue.
www.kawa-z650.de/eure01.htm

That is such a beautiful blue. Now I'm starting think I should restore this ol gal back to her former glory rather than do any resto custom thing ? Just so much of the original bike is missing or basterdized.