i was curious to the prices on the msrp of the cannondale 3.0 road bikes outfitted with shimano 105 back in the day. anyone have a ballpark?

pretty much something like this:

I think these sold new for around $800, give or take $100. The 105 groupo really helped keep the cost down compared to same bike outfitted with ultegra but without much noticeable decrease in performance, just a bit of weight. Same frame used in all their race bikes, not a lower quality frame for 105 bikes. I still ride my '90 road geometry 3.0 !

Don't know if it helps at all but my '91 R300 was $490.00, might have been a discount I don't remember if it was a sale or not.

Canadian prices were higher. I bought a new 3.0 R500 frame and fork only from Gary Duke for $300 tax in. I think it was a deal for TO. Complete bikes had to run close to a grand.

Your pic looks like a 2.8 frame...

I had one bought in 87 I think it was, and I believe we paid $599 then, don't know if it was full price or last year discount, nice bike, it's the only bike I wish I had never sold, and am probably going to buy one in the robins egg blue color it was if I find one reasonable in my size.

That photo is of an '89 or later 3.0 frame. The 2.8 had cable housing stops towards the bottom of the top tube, rather than guides atop the top tube. The top tube and down tube on the 2.8 series frame is also tapered.

Brad

I can't help with specifics regarding the 105 components, but I purchased my 1990 SR300 in October 1990 for $320. This was the least expensive 3.0 series at the time and was originally equipped with Suntour Blaze components. Yes, I am still riding it, though the components have been changed.
I had wanted 105 components at the time on advice from my brother, but remember that the price was significantly higher, though I don't recall how much. At the time, my previous bike was a well used Schwinn Varsity so I was more than willing to settle for the Blaze components. The components were upgraded to a combination of Campy Chorus and Athena around 1994 and these are still in use today.

Kayaker's reply made me realize I have the wrong model for my '91 C'Dale, it was an SR300, as he indicated he owned. My bad, sorry if this confused anything.