Stock appearing H/O's are gorgeous when clean and done right. There are already a gazillion rusted out H/O's and clones that are half assed running around. Personally, I'm not into that patina thing....maybe on an old truck or rat rod but since you have a real VIN 9 car I would bring it back to its full glory.
I agree, the car will spend the next year or 2 in epoxy primer until I can do it right. I love stock H/O look and that's how the car will look. Under the hood it's not gonna be so stock. The Hurst cars have a registyPaint it back stock. Just my opinion.