There you go again, diluting what could be good restoration articles with the typical cop-out: "Since it's a Chevy, we just ordered brand new replacement parts/repro parts/patch panels". You guys ought to try fixing up an A-body Mopar, or using your Rambler as the guinea pig, to demonstrate a "real-world" scenario  -- no repros available, work with what you have or scour the swap meets/junk yards. Specifically, it would have been very useful to see an example of how to go about a lower fender rust repair without a pre-made patch panel. Junkyards aren't much use in this situation, since that's where all the junk cars are rusted out, too.

As far as I'm concerned, working on Mustangs and Camaros isn't car crafting, it's merely assembling 1:1 scale models from kits. I mean, it's a nice hobby, but where's the challenge?

Not that I'm jealous or anything...  

Not that you don't make a good point, but if they had done that, you'd get a bunch of guys bitching about why they didn't take the easy route and use reproduction parts.

With the Rambler, I think I remember a fair amount of junkyard hunting for a new hood and some other small pieces?  

Unfortunately most shops/backyard hobbyists dont want to or have the time/tools it takes to make patches/repairs the old fashioned way.I say old fashioned becuase good metal fabricators are getting hard to find and most people dont have the skills/equipiment to do PROPER metal forming/finishing.Ask me how I know.I am re-doing my 72 Maverick and body panels for replacement are NIL!! in my part of the country.My car has 4 rust holes,the biggest the size of a hockey puck on the right front fender.I have repaired it with a metal patch and some lead.(yes I said lead)Another dieing art form.I am good(not a pro)but very good It took me 4hrs to repair the fender and about 90 bucks in materials.Its done,perfect,no filler just steel and some lead.I would pay 150 bucks for a fender that precluded having to this.Time is money thats why most shops/people just replace parts when they can.I can hang a fender and line it up in about 30 to 40 minutes(if it gives me a hard time)15 if it dont.Making a slik purse out of a sows ear IS car crafting no matter how you go about it.Forget Foose/Coddington/Trepanier.Thats not redily attainable for the do it yourselfer.That is where you find the skills necessary though,but it just aint affordable for guys like us,or high volume body/paint shops.Time is money in the auto repair buisiness.If you can do it yourself and time isnt an issue for you(such as in my case)go for it or be prepared to pay.Thats why the mags do SIMPLE tech articles(so average guys can do it too)Car craft did do a fender dent repair article on the rambler showing some torch tecniques for shrinking and stretching metal and made it appear easier than it really is(Ill give you that as far as your point of view is concerned)It takes years of practice and an undertstanding of how sheet metal behaves when bent and heated to do well.Betcha they would have replaced that fender if they found a good one,and done an article on how to line it up to boot.So give em a break and enjoy what they do tell you about.Its a hobby not rocket science.