I am about to buy a 1976 Pinto coupe and I live in Tulsa, Ok.  Where is a reasonable place to get paint and bodywork and what is an average cost?  The only rust is behind the back wheels.

I work for Tulsa Public Schools and they don't have those programs around here anymore. 

To be conservative I would budget more than at least a grand.  I do my own body and paint work and one thing will depend on how bad the rust is behind the back wheels.  I have a 76 Pinto that was my grandfather's I'll be starting soon, and am now finishing a '66 Mustang.  One thing that happens is once you get in there, you'll likely find other problems you didn't know existed, or how extensive it is.  The only real way to get rid of rust is to cut it out and weld in new metal.  My dad paid someone to fix our Pinto several years ago and it is all rusted out again.  I'm not impressed with the work.  I've spent lots of time sealing any nook and cranny I see in my Mustang so as water won't be able to penetrate and I don't have to go back and fix it again.  That takes time and when you pay someone it takes money to get it right.  Paint will also cost you.  I'd say you might be able to get away with 1K on the paint alone or even less f you go somewhere like Maaco.  You want a nicer paint job you'll pay more.  Depends on the quality you want.  I know people that have spent thousands on paint jobs.  It's basically up to you and what you can afford or if money is no issue, how much you want to throw at it.  Hoped that helps some.