For a number of reasons that I will not get into in this post, finding a high quality body shop in a high rent, highly regulated region such as the Bay Area is becoming increasingly difficult. Finding one that would even consider doing a total repaint on a vintage car for a "reasonable" price is bordering on impossible. Unfortunately, it usually comes down to a tug of war over money. In general, the customer may not understand the value of someone else's labor and wants a deal while the paint shop has a reputation for a certain level of quality and needs to make a profit. The chasm between these two perspectives is often significant.
While there was a time in the recent past where a small collision shop and a local Maaco franchise would take on these jobs, it required that the customer (me) do the lion share of the preparation, disassembly, and reassembly. My local Maaco (who did very nice work at the lower end of the price spectrum) apparently has shied away from classic repaints.
With this as the backdrop, I suggest you attend local car shows and gatherings and ask fellow hobbyists for referrals. Also, consider looking for a shop in the valley (north of Sacramento or south of Fresno) where the cost of doing business is lower.
My opinion is based upon 3 total repaints between 2004 and 2008 that cost me approximately $2500, $3000, and $7500. YMMV.
Good luck and let us know where you end up taking your car.
