At today’s body shop rates $1000 won’t even get the dents pulled and the rust cut out. Triple your figure if you don’t want them to try to match the paint.
Also, do not make the mistake of telling the Body Shop that you’re not in any hurry. If you do, your project gets put in the back corner of the shop and only gets touched when the payroll jobs slow down. Tell them you want it in the regular rotation then stop by often to check. They need to know you are serious. If you notice they are not working on it, do not hesitate to have a heart to heart with the shop owner. BTW my opinion comes from direct conversations with 3 different body shop owners.
It is just that, my opinion, and I’m intitled to it.
