[Verdoro 68]

What is the scope of the estimate? Full ground up nut and bolt restoration? Just Paint & body? How about interior, chassis/suspension and engine? $6k in parts seem light to me. You'll also probably end up with a final cost at least 1/3 more than the estimate.

IMO, being in California doesn't really have much to do with the price. If you drop a fully assembled car off at a shop to do a resto, that's a pretty time intensive operation. There's a lot of variables depending on the depth of work and products their using. $22k for paint and body may be a little on the higher end, but it's not totally out of the ball park. Also consider that a shop is likely going to farm out work like upholstery which is going to up your cost.

If you are hands on, consider what work you'd be willing to do yourself. For example, disassembling and stripping the car for paint at home then reassembling would save you a couple thousand. Likewise, pulling the interior, ordering parts, and finding an interior shop on your own would whittle down the cost too.

That's my two cents, anyway. I've rarely had a large chunk of change to invest in my car at one time so I've had to get crafty about restoring it. Then again, I also enjoy getting my hands dirty.