Worst body job ever

Not passing judgement, just adding my story. I have a #s matching 68 Formula S 383 4spd convertable. My friends say I have the welding skills to do this car myself. Frankly, I'm afraid of screwing up a very rare car and having to pay twice as mush to fix what I screwed up. I've had a half dozen body guys look at it. Some wanted to flange weld in the panels, some wanted to lap weld them, I want all but welds. Most said the couldn't give me an estamate because they wouldn't know what was there untill the got into it. There is not one bolt left on the car and the body has been media blasted inside and out. What's not to see? I had prices as low as 3K for body and paint. The last guy that looked at was recomended by a friend at BBD. He took a pad and went around the car inch by inch, 1.5 hr for this, 2.2 hr for that. All but welds, all seems leaded, primed $8500 plus any parts, plus paint prep, plus paint. I know exactly what I'm getting and what it's costing me, Joe.