[ChevLoRay]

Check out the car/truck shows in your area. Ask local folks who painted their vehicle. Check with local shops for references to their work.

Generally, production body shops are strapped for time and room to do a "restoration" paint/body job. They are driven to turn the work out as quickly as possible to keep the cash flow constant.

If you see that a given body shop has a collection of photos of what seem to be antique/classic/special interest vehicles, ask them about them...who did it, when, where is it, can you talk to the owner, etc.

I've also seen some decent, really really decent, stuff done by Maaco, etc. It all comes down to preparation. If the prep work is done correctly, body/primer/etc., then painting is generally not a stopper.

I knew a guy who bought/restored El Caminos. He'd buy one that had been wrecked, usually with frame damage. He'd then go buy a frame from a Chevelle wagon (same wheelbase as El Camino) and marry the two. He'd do whatever other work needed to be done, then finally he'd paint it. He had no booth. He had his garage at home. He only used red or white, or combination of the two. They always looked nice. No runs, no drips, no orange peel. Paint wasn't thin, and it didn't wash off. Some people can do it; others can't. I've seen lacquer jobs done at home that looked terrible....explained by the rough appearance. Then, I'd be told that "all it needs is rubbing-out". Hey, they were right. Of course, we both know that lacquer done that looked like that was shot dry, right?

Do your homework. It is what counts.