Thanks all for the extra comments. I'm still viewing it as an expensive lesson. The good news is I recently found another mid-1960s boy's gold (properly called coppertone?) Firestone 500 with 26" wheels that looks like it was ridden very lightly and always kept inside. I'll soon post photos of this bike and the story explaining why my search was so specific in a new C & V thread soon.
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WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May, Jul, Aug, Oct, 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Dec 1985; Apr 1994; May, Jun 1996; May 1997.
WTB: bicyclist May, Dec 1997: Jun-Dec 1998.
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
WTB: Litespeed head badge (circa 2000)