I do my own work, in part because I like to, in part to be sure it gets done "right" (which can easily be "wrong" if I don't really know what I'm doing), and in part because I couldn't afford this car at all if I had to pay someone else to do it.
I try to avoid significant cosmetic work because I'm awful at it. I don't do touch-up all that well, either, but at least it's small areas and doesn't show up so much. No matter how hard I try not to screw up, I still screw up, every time. Maddening.
I don't do automatic transmissions, alignment maybe, but otherwise there isn't much I won't try.
Favorite tools: short metric Gearwrenches. These little buggers have saved me time and time again.
Best part of the day: getting it all back together and finding it works (huge sigh of relief), then taking a shower, then a gin and tonic.
George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual