Simply put and only in my opinion, the rapid increase in price is a product of supply(limited and decreasing) + demand(unlimited and increasing) and pure BS(people sit around and BS about how much this or that old bike is worth).

Those three factors, two of which are based on fact, will cause the selling price to increase. The third factor - BS - will also impact the prices, for a while, but will eventually settle down. Sadly, by the time the BS has done its work, I will no longer be able to afford a vintage road bicycle.

Does that make a lick of sense?

Oh - make no mistake about it - the bikes are selling, and I base that comment on fact, my own personal experienced fact, also.