I picked this up at a yard sale for $5.

According to Sheldon Brown's site, it is a mid-range marquee.

MAFAC Racer brakes and MAFAC levers.
Huret down-tube shifters and front derailleur.
Huret AllVit rear derailleur.
Aduprat Unversel Crank
Samir Saminox Rims
Normandy Hubs

It's white but appears maroon underneath where the paint is chipped.

Any opinions on whether it is worth restoring or would make a good fixed-gear conversion?

Cool bike, but the fork is slightly bent, unless it is a "photo-thing"

Where does it look bent?

fork looks fine.

steel rims, cottered crank. maroon paint is probably the primer.

a cheap fixed/single-speed wheelset and a rubdown would work.

+1, the fork looks fine to me. It's just turned to the left a little which is what Dave was probably seeing.

I agree with illwafer, it's a lower end ride and would be great for SS/FG. The saddle looks pretty nice, that alone makes this a pretty decent score.

I think David's talking about this (attached), but it could just be a trick of the slightly turned fork.

Your bike reminds me of my Astra Tour de France, only slightly better and Frenchier. I just rebuilt the TdF from the ground up, including polishing everything that polishes. Satisfying experience, OK ride (NOT for the TdF, but around town, OK), and I always get compliments on it.

Your bike would clean up nice and have that 70s French boom-bike juice in a big way. Looks all orig. I say keep as is.

Fork is fine. These blades follow the headtube line from the center, not from the front edge, and not from the rear (the latter of which always looks bent, even if built that way).

-Kurt

I had a chip of wood under one of the legs of my chair.

Biggest issue on conversion would be dealing with the bottom bracket/crankset. It's French threaded on the St. Etienne (or it is on mine).

Neal

jameswelle, I'd restore it as she is, including the spoke protector with the possible exceptions of the usual wear items, the saddle and rims. The wheelset likely needs relacing and it'll be easier to clean the steel rims without spokes. If I were going to ride it I'd replace the rims with aluminum for better braking in the wet.

Brad

I was wondering about the bottom bracket issue. Would I be able find a bottom bracket for this frame? What about a rear wheel with the right spacing?

Steel frame, so rear spacing is not really an issue. Bike is lower end, so I would be looking for used wheels anyway, and you can find pretty much anything you want.

Do a search on french bottom brackets, a few choices out there, none of them cheap.

+1 Entry level french bike from the bike boom. Worth restoring? Not really, unless you are really careful on the spending. Best bet is to just rehab what is there, with new tires and cables. Saddle alone makes the bike a score.