Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Motobecane mixte: worth picking up at the local picker?

This crusty old girl is going for $35 in a local junk shop. The biggest issue I see is that the chrome's flaking off the rims. Obviously not the original bars. The wing nuts are what caught my attention. I already have plenty of old bikes to work on, so my question is: what is it, and would this be a high-value project or would it have to be a labor of love?
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The way it is now maybe if you really like a lot of work. It would be a good deal if it had the original drop bars with brake levers and seat post with seat.

The rear brake is pretty inspired. Past that, for $35, I'd be hesitant to pick it up unless I knew someone who would ride it, I don't think there's much value past that.

EDIT: Let me rephrase that: I'd definitely pick it up for $35, but I have great access to free parts and incidentals that an old weirdly built bike this will most certainly need. I'd get it for one of my shorter friends to ride and enjoy, it doesn't strike me that this is anything other than a pretty standard, middle of the line bike. At best.

If you have another set of wheels that would work I'd think about it... would make a killer "house" bike.

I think she's worth the price. I'd say if you can find a correct bar for it and clean it really well you could resale it for more. In my area the license plate like this one have go for 20-25$. Maybe it could be a good bike to part out. Also here bare or semi-bare frame are going for 30-40$. Just a thought.

Anyone want to take a stab at the year? Also, any guess what the hubs and shifters are? Finally what is your impression of the lug work?

My guess is 1970's... in the early.
What size of wheel is it?

Definitely early 70s or maybe earlier. That Moto headbadge is from before Motos became popular in the mid to late 70s. By then they were using the M with wings as their badge (the same one BikesDirect uses on current "Motobecanes").

I picked up one a little bit younger for free awhile back. Fixed it up but the person I gave it to never rode it. Probably ended up back on the curb. I wouldn't spend $35 on it.

I'd say 60's. I think by the 70's CA started using a state wide license sticker.

Okay, so it's not a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Guess I'll let it pass. I have enough projects as it is. Thank you for your insight.

I would have let it pass. To me, its all about paint condition, and looking close at those pics, the paint looks pretty poor. I see a lot of areas with serious paint loss, along with some rust. If the paint was in better shape, I would grab it.

I don't see much value in donor parts either. Cottered crank, nutted axles, etc. = pass.

Poor little unloved moto-what happened to the labor of love? It's just screaming 'SAVE ME'! Surely the frame and wingnuts are worth 35 beans.

Well, I do want to put together a road bike for my kids, but it would need a triple crank because of the hill we live on. I don't think I want to deal with French threading when converting the BB.

That is a pretty nice old Mixte and just might be worth picking up for that price.

Measure the seat tube, from the middle of the bottom bracket to the intersection point where the top tube would meet the seat tube. If that measurement is 52cm, or greater, the bike is definitely worth picking up.

Mixtie bicycles with longer seat tubes are much sought after, these days.

At $35.00 it would have been on my roof rack in seconds.