Thanks everyone! I had considered the Tour de France, but couldn't find evidence that it came in this burgundy color. The rear dropout arrangement on this '73 TdF does seem to be basically identical though:
1973 Gitane Tour de France Repaint The fact that Gitane used stickers rather than decals under clearcoat would help explain the total lack of branding on this frame, too.
Originally Posted by
rustystrings61
'72-73 Gitane Tour de France, 531 frame forks and stays, plain Nervex crown, swaged seat stay tops, no centerpull hanger - WITH an alloy Simplex rear derailleur and my favorite vintage sidepulls and a Stronglight 99 crankset ... build it up and ride it, odds are you'll love it dearly.
The sidepulls have already gone onto another project, it'll be getting whatever brakes I can find that have the reach for a 650b conversion! I have a set of Mafac Racers I'd like to use, but I won't know til I have the wheels built next week. I have a set of Alesa 650b rims from an 80's schwinn MTB that I'm planning to lace to a Harris Cycles branded flipflop hub and a Raleigh branded Suzue front hub, both high flange. I'll be holding on to the derailleur just in case though

definitely keeping the cranks, planning to pair them with a Velo-Orange threadless bottom bracket and swoopy chainguard. Still need to find a headset (original was damaged) and get it repainted, but it should be rideable by summer.