I couldn't stand it...nothing making sense with the color and numbers so I took it apart and maybe found out why..
It is the only Custom Shop marking on the guitar.
 
It's the only Strat I own that has the tremset and it's the only one I have locked down and don't use the trem .
Wanted it stable for the hex.
 
Glad I took it apart...I just play it and change the strings so it was good to oil the neck and give it a cleaning and at least now I know a little more about the guitar. Definitely a '89 Plus.
Sperzel tuners and no string tree(s) but didn't want to post pic with serial #.
 
 

 
Unlike stated at the site mine as 3 silver Lace pups.

It looks cool.
 
Is it metallic? From the pics, it conceivably looks to me like it could be Gun Metal Blue which was being produced in that time period. Here's an '89 GMB Plus from ebay.uk:
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-Fender-Strat-Plus-USA-Stratocaster-Rare-Gun-Metal-Blue-Gold-Lace-Sensor-/360468709467
 
Maybe it has a letter code (like Fender Japan) rather than a number code?
 
http://fendercolorchart.w...rs/068GunMetalBlue.php
68 - Gun Metal Blue
GMB - Gun Metal Blue
UGB - US Gun Metal Blue

I see how one could think it's blue by that picture but this guitar is without green and yes it's metallic. My wife says it's emerald green. Unlike that picture it doesn't show color change with angle.
 
There are no letters other than the makers on it.
 
Maybe the original owner ordered it? I'll probably see him today so I'll ask. It's been so long I don't remember what he had to say about the guitar.
 
 
 

OK, I guess I got confused with blue/green because you mentioned 51 = Sky Blue earlier.
 
Odd. I didn't see any signs of refinishing in the pics and I'm guessing you would catch that immediately. And the fact the dates are so similar suggest that it can't be a replacement body. Does the SN match the Fender format except for the color code? There are some Fenders with unusual SN formats.
 
I've seen darkish Sherwood Greens. My Sherwood Green "Trilogy Tele" (ebay) body on the left isn't a Fender body (so who knows about the color), but looks similar to yours. Of course it's hard to tell much from online photos:
 

Here's some fun pics -  Fender Custom Colors and the corresponding cars of the same color:
 
http://www.jedistar.com/car_colour_guitars.htm
 
(Warning: The site that page is on can lead to extreme amounts of your time being consumed!)

The SFS doesn't want to post the link (maybe it stupidly thinks it's spam?), but here are some fun pics - Fender Custom Colors and the corresponding period cars of the same color:

Just Google "car_colour_guitars" and you should find the link right at the top.

(Warning: The site that page is on contains more links and info on more guitar companies than you can even imagine and can lead to extreme amounts of your time being consumed!)
 
 
 
 
Edit:  Yes,  the system thought it was spam.  I've restored it.  Karyn

I mentioned 51 because that is the color code in the serial number on the guitar and because on Fender color charts 51 is listed as sky blue...
The last two digits in the serial number are the color...but it's not holding true for this guitar.
The serial number format--E900000 is correct for '89-90.
 
I did talk with my friend that I thought was the original owner....he wasn't. I assumed that I guess because he said he bought it at a local store.
The good thing is that the original owner is a good friend of his so he's going to get the scoop on the guitar. I'm sure curious now.
 
 
 

I contacted Jeff at Xhefen's Guitars and he was great help.
I sent him photos and he said it is a 1989 Standard Plus "Gunmetal Blue" and quote

I am not sure how many times people have asked about this color. More greens than blue yet called Gunmetal Blue!

 
 Oh...he said the Custom Shop sticker didn't mean it came from the CS. He also had a few like that.

Edit: Yes, the system thought it was spam. I've restored it. Karyn
 post edited by Karyn - 5 hours ago
 

 
Thanks Karyn - you da best.
 
Wish the SFS would have told me what was up when I hit submit instead of just bringing me back to the thread. Then I wouldn't have to waste a bunch of time figuring out what was going on and losing anything else I typed , but maybe they don't want to notify actual spammers.

spacey
I contacted Jeff at Xhefen's Guitars and he was great help.
I sent him photos and he said it is a 1989 Standard Plus "Gunmetal Blue" and quote

I am not sure how many times people have asked about this color. More greens than blue yet called Gunmetal Blue!

 
 Oh...he said the Custom Shop sticker didn't mean it came from the CS. He also had a few like that.

Cool. The mystery is solved!
 
I wonder if the green could be from yellowing of the finish, or if they just called it that because blue is perhaps perceived more popularly?