The other "clue" to the origin of the 1990 Le Tour is the catalog statement that it is "made in the USA". Up until 1980, Schwinn catalogs were very specific about which models were made in the USA versus which were imported. From about the time the Chicago plant closed until around the late '80's, Schwinn went to great lengths to avoid listing the country of origin of its bikes in its catalogs and advertising. By law, Schwinn was forced to disclose where the bike was built on the bike itself.

I suspect the reason that Schwinn made a point of stating the 1990 Le Tour was "made in the USA" was that by then it was unusual for a mid-price road bike to be made in the USA. But, soon thereafter, the Mississippi plant was closed and Schwinn was sold.

The former manager of the Mississippi Schwinn factory "lost" a valuable bike. He took the very last American made Schwinn home the day that production ended. His son was headed off to college, and asked to borrow it. And, as bikes do at college, it came up missing. I wonder how much the "last American made Schwinn" would be worth on E-Bay?