seeking info on Motobecane Mirage series from the 80's (French)

Sounds a bit pricey to me. That's a $100 bicycle, if that. Motobecane was a respected name back then, a solid French manufacturer that didn't quite have the cachet of Peugeot, but (IMHO) made at least as good a bike, if not a bit better.

Might search ebay and see what turns up there. It's a good indicator of used bike prices, if you can find something similar to what you're looking at.

you can probably research this bike better at:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/

One of the problems with a bike that has second tier components is that parts for them are very difficult to find. Old Campy Record gear is easy to come by, as are the parts, and the price is sinfully low, considering what it once sold for. Parts for Suntour or Weinmann are a bit harder to find, and while good components, they don't quite have the longevity of old Campy Nuovo Record, so odds are pretty good that you will need some of those parts you can't find.

If you like classic rides, and there's plenty to like, you might scan ebay for a Campy equipped 70's or 80's bike. It will cost you a bit more right up front (plan on spending at least $500), but it will be lighter, handle better, and if you do need parts, you can find them.

BTW: the all Campy Motobecane was called the Team Champion, and it came in a bright orange color. Riding buddy of mine used to have one, very nice bike.

I don't know how much you intend to ride the bike, but be aware that the selection of tires available in 27" is way more limited than metric sizes like the common 700c.

I've ridden a 1981 Mirage Sport for the last 24 years. This was one model below the Super Mirage, and cost $185 new. It has served me well, never a serious problem, still running the original derailleurs and chainring. It has survived some nasty crashes and 3-4 house moves. But it's become harder and harder to find compatible parts due to all the non-standard threadings and antique wheel size (27"😉. For $200 you're unlikely to find much that's better, but if can afford to, I'd recommend going with something a little more up-to-date to ensure compatibility with current systems.

PS, I finally bought a new bike to replace the Motobecane this year.