The Golden Boy 

The whole "vintage" concept is slippery. If you think of it like model years- you think of the features that were available and popular for that year. It's not so much that it's "old" or that it's a "1958," but the unique features and components and manufacturers and quirks that made that model year unique.

Looking at the guitar analogy above- in 1965 Fender was bought out by CBS- collectors use that as a cutoff- "pre-CBS" For 1960s guitars- those are usually guitars with serial numbers that start with the letter L. An L serial number generally defines a Pre-CBS guitar, even though the L serial number plates were used for almost a year after the sale to CBS.

In the case of Fender Stratocasters- the headstock shape changed at least 4 times between 1964 and 1974- to me the big change is in 68/69 going to the big gaudy leisure suit headstock... If'n I were to buy a Strat- I would look for one that has more of the "classic" more graceful early 60s shape.

With bikes- Model years change characteristics- model numbers change, material and components change... in 1985 the Trek 720 was the outrageously expensive King **** touring bike- in the early 90s, the 720 model number was used on a 'just above entry level' hybrid bike.

To me, steel frames with level top tubes, silver components, relatively subdued graphics are hallmarks of "classic" bikes, that just happen to be "vintage." There's more and less to it- and while there are bikes that are currently made with a lot of the hallmarks of "vintage" bikes- the major manufacturers are not making bikes like that for the great majority of the general public.

IMO and all that.