so it may not be a true PAL signal but something changes at the composite output.
RIght, PAL mode outputs 50hz and NTSC outputs 60hz, the change that doesn't happen is the color system, so basically when you select PAL mode on an NTSC 1200, you get NTSC-50.
I have an LCD TV here that sees 50hz and assumes PAL, so when it goes into PAL mode on my NTSC machines I get no color.