I feel your pain man. Halfway into the body work on my '69 last year, my body guy got into a motorcycle accident and died. There one day, gone the next. I eventually found a new guy, but I paid more for the second guy.
I've found that if you go to your local engine shops, car parts places, etc; strike up a friendly conversation, and then just off the cuff say, "Hey, do you happen to know anyone that does real good body and paint work?" I would say 50% of the time, they know of a "friend" who does work on the side. Ask for their information, and give them a call.
Or, since you already have the body panels, you can learn to weld.
And yes, you are correct, you will loose a lot more selling it as a project vehicle, than even slapping it back together with bondo and giving it a Maaco paint job.
Don't sell the car, you will regret letting it go when you are already a good way into your project. Ask around, some of the best folks I have met working on my car were not in the Yellow Pages.
