Doing a full restoration correctly is very time consuming, I put 1500hours plus into a full nut and bolt restoration and I contract out the welding and paint which are both very time consuming as well.
I can see why lots of corners are cut as owners often do not realise the costs involved, I tell them straight what I expect it to cost but many other restorers give a get them in the door price usually between 30/50% of the real cost then get the car in and strip it down before letting the customer know the true costs.
I am involved with one car and the owner said he would take the shell away and get someone else to do it as my guys were slow which they are it will take a year to get a shell welded and another to get it painted but the work is amazing and the costs are quite reasonable. He told me the estimate was 25-30K welded and painted and I knew he was taking it to a large restoration company where you can eat your dinner off the workshop floor and with big fancy offices etc and I knew this was the get him in the door price but didnt say anything.
The shell is now finished and looks superb but the owner tells me he spent 100K getting it done and the funniest part is it still took them 2 years to do it and not the 6 months they promised him.