Body Filler Options

[GeorgeRud]

As I have no bodywork experience, I wonder if it's standard to completely cover the body with filler, then sand it down (as seen on many of the Velocity Channel restoration shows) before applying primer and color coats? Obviously this amount of hand crafting is not done during initial manufacturing, but is there an advantage to this? Seems a high build sealing primer would make this unnecessary.

[Unobtanium-inc]

Here's the question every man has to ask himself when restoring a Porsche. How much time and money do I have? I know guys who have been restoring their cars for 30 years. I normally tell these guys they should sell their 356 and buy a 914, and you'll be driving this weekend.
But if you're restoring your 914 which has an end value of high teens or low 20's if it turns out nice then you better watch the dollars you put in, if not you have $50,000 in a car that ends up being worth $20,000. Most 914's haven't reached the stage where you can hire a good restoration shop and tell them to "call me when it's done". There is still a heavy presence of DIY in doing a 914. With that being said you can learn the art of metal work or you can learn the lesser art of body filler, or more importantly, learn a combination of the two. Body filler can fill in a lot of imperfections and if you are new to body work you can hope to get a panel to about 75-80% of where it needs to be, body filler can take you the rest of the way home.
I'm a firm believer in the "Code Of Clint", a man's got to know his limitations. That extends to both his skills and his wallet. So to answer the original guy's question, feel free to use body filler when needed, given the alternative of paying a body guy thousands, possibly tens of thousands.