I guess the real answer, Pat, lies in the labor.
What would you guess the hourly rate is for Craftsman level-So.Cal-McCluskey work? $75/hour? ...$100/hour?
How long is does a down-to-frame restoration take?
1000 hours? ...2000 hours? more?
I've got nearly a hundred hours into KMP178, just taking it down to the frame... and it doesn't look like I've done anything yet!
(...that's cause I like to play with the little pieces instead of working!)
Those installment-restoration jobs you see on Speed (I forget the shop in Canada's name) ...you know, a 'Cuda or a Camaro that's done over the season of shows....they end up with over a 100k price tag for the work.