oskisan
I live for the CABE
Late to the thread, but I've lived here in the south Bay Area for my entire 65 years. I remember seeing the "driveway" listings many years ago... possibly before the Cabe forums existed (or at least this iteration that began in what... 2006?). I remember a Cabe website before that, but without forums (?). And Craigslist began in the latter 90's I think. Anyway, to each their own I guess. I think of myself as sort of a "purist" who likes things original for the most part, and seeing 50's and 60's middleweights stripped of original parts and made into "bombers" and "klunkers" leaves me a bit cold. And since VERY few nice original and mostly complete specimens turn up around here (part of the reason for the high prices, no doubt), seeing modified and parted out bikes is all the more demoralizing to someone like me. Lowkey offers a hell of a lot of bikes, but they don't turn over very quickly (at least not the ones on CL). Occasionally they offer a mid-century middleweight that is basically unmolested, but they tend to be the lower grade, less deluxe models. Maybe he keeps the "good stuff"? I have no idea, but as someone said above, if he's succeeding at doing it his way, more power to him. I'm just a complainer.
Naturally, just as I go on this rant, a 1950's Corvette turns up on CL locally... for only $600 (yes, that's cheap for this area). Of course, I'm no expert (and the photos are limited in quality and quantity), so I don't know if this is a totally legit example: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/atq/d/san-jose-schwinn-corvette-1950s-cruiser/7335021709.html
Not a bad corvette, and the price is reasonable, but couldn't the seller have taken a couple better pics? Interesting how people list things for sale when they do not have to pay for the listing... Makes me wonder if the bike is missing a chainguard.