An interesting process, I hope it works well for you (and it may).

I would offer a couple words of caution/advice (which may be something you have also considered).

Regularly check the progress and pay attention to the small parts (you wouldn't believe the horror stories of lost small parts when the cars go to the body shops; thing like trim, latches etc being misplaced and having to be replaced.)

If you start feeling uncomfortable with a shop/workmanship pull the car!!!

I suspect you are doing a bit more research than by brother-in-law did, but his 60 Ford truck is unfortunatly a more common story than not. His MAIN concern was cost period.

He sought out the cheapest "body men" he could find locally. The truck ended up with at total of three people's garages. The first one left town in the middle of the night (likely not a problem with the people your dealing with), the second kept simply quit working on it, and in the process 'misplaced " all the hinges, door handles trim etc". The third guy finally finished it.

On a trip back to IL over Thanksgiving I saw the truck in person for the first time (it's been "done" for about a 1 1/2 years now), and I was a little underwhelmed. The 8" run under the back window was bad enough, but what he was most concerned about was finding a replacement door for the passenger side due to the rust bubbleing up under the paint.

At this point he has right around $30K in the truck (which in my estimation is presently a decent $8 - 12K driver quality, discounting the condition of the door).

I guess my point is keep an eye on what's going on, and research how the work is supposed to be CORRECTLY done. If it's below the quality YOU want, don't be afraid move it to another shop.

MY 57 Plymouth is currently in the body shop and getting closer to paint. Yes in my case cost is also a consideration, I did not go with the cheapest, but I also didn't go with the most expensive.

I've done paint and body work before, so I knew pretty much what was going to be involved. I choose the body guy I'm using after spending a couple hours talking to him, and went into it realizing I was trading a bit of time for a lower price (the cars been there since July). The work is quality and steady, but most importantly I have followed it every step of the way (I stop by every couple of weeks) and I know whats under the primer.

Keep us posted.