Well, folks, I did just score another fine find at the local "Goodwill" - a circa mid-seventies Motobecane "Super Mirage" in excellent shape! However, I'm going to just throw the frame, fork, and foam-covered handlebars away... I just purchased it for the lovely Weinmann 27 1/4" wheels, center-pull brakes, and Suntour VX-GT der. So... if anybody has an interest in this thing, I'll let the frame, fork, shifters, and handlebar set go for $30 total cost (that's basically shipping money and the cost of getting the frame to UPS!).
Also, I do recall reading the story that one of the riders in "Breaking Away" had a sex-change operation... but I don't have the details reight off.