Originally Posted by Happy Feet

...the thing I really enjoy is the creative spark of taking a dumpster find and building it into something nice and/or unique. Basic frames allow me to do this on a regular basis and not break the bank and I can go to town with them without worrying about messing with period correct paint, decals, groupset aesthetics etc...

There is that same sort of dissatisfaction thing sometimes but it's more about what I want to do to the bike rather than just a part I want to buy: creativity rather than consumerism. What makes riding them so pleasurable is the feeling that I have personally created or rebuilt them so that they are a realization of my vision that wasn't present in the initial product.

Originally Posted by tiredhands

This is exactly it, for me. For me, this is the best part about being "into" Classic and Vintage bikes: old, basic frames are a much better blank canvas than fancy frames, either old or new. Slap on some funky paint, make it a gravel grinder or a single speed if ya want, and have fun!