Well, you had to open the can of worms haha...
OK so first there are a myriad of "catalogs" per each year. Generally there is a brochure (pamphlet), a parts / accessories catalog (only shows parts + numbers, 8.5 x 11) and then a larger more comprehensive catalog (8.5 x 11 and shows each model on a page - I think this is the dealer one you reference). What I referenced is the more comprehensive catalog.
The color selections are consistent through the 50s racers the only difference is the deluxe racer switched from opal to radiant colors in '58.
1956 catalog (what I posted above)
1957 brochure
1958 switch noted to radiant in price list /
1957 price list for comparison - Note - to my knowledge - the racer was the very first model to receive radiant paint colors in 1958, and in 1959 the rest of the line switched over.
Now this is where things get a little weird. In
1953 the World stopped (
note discontinued models in 1954: world). In
1954 enters the collegiate, that essentially replaces the World as their base model lightweight.
In 1955 the collegiate ends and per the price lists the "World" pops back up.
The world is also shown in this 1955 catalog, but no mention of the racer. The racer does start showing up in the
1956 price sheet as a promotional model. However, there is material out there showing a '55 racer and I have archived many of these I have found (below). My assumption is that somewhere in '55 the switch occurred from world to racer. And some of the early racers were produced and went out in late '55 (note the ‘55 racer Christmas ad below) or very early '56. I wonder how many '55 worlds actually went out as I have not come across any (not confirmed, but trying to verify a date on a ladies 1955 World). As noted above, I do however have quite a few 1955 racers (regular & deluxe) archived (some below). There are some years that have more than one price list come out (different times of the year) and we may just be missing that piece of information to add this all up).
The very first releases of the racer had the swoopy schwinn decal that you found on the middleweights and later travelers ('56) (this decal appeared on both the early racer and deluxe racer (images below)). I have yet to come across the comprehensive catalog (dealer) that shows the early decal (because of the assumed transition in '55 (between catalogs) it may not have been captured in this way.
1955 racer ad (Christmas ad)
1955 Deluxe Racer
1955 Racer