Carerra Virtuoso - help needed identifying - frame number

[slomo]

So the guy i bought it from 'thinks' it's a 2000 Virtuoso.....

I think it's earlier than that because:
1 - it's steel.
2 - it has a JIS headset.

I thought JIS kind of ended around early to mid 90's.

And was certainly not used in 2000.....

It's been resprayed (rattle can) and 'upgraded'.

Shimano RSX groupset.
Lovely Roval high flange hubs.

It's quirky, but i really like it - anyone any idea of the year?

Many thanks!

 

[sam_white]

My 2p - if it is worth replying to old posts such as this-

Most likely that is a Carrera Virtuoso, bit earlier than 2000 (as the 2000 bike was aluminium. Possibly 1997/1998/1999 and painted either as this example https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/vintage-carrera-virtuoso-1990s-now-sold.418111/
or the same frame in plain red (previous year iirc).

Year 2000 frames were by Merida, with serial numbers similar to mine A0A81789