This is me. I couldn't not imagine nor live with driving a dented up car as you describe. Its seen as a part of you.
If you drive it, it is very much worth getting repaired. You never stated anything wrong with the car's mechanics, so why not take care of the body. Certainly much more life is left in the vehicle all you will do is at to the car's life.
Their is nothing like the results of restoring something that represents were you are have been knowing the back story. Certianly makes matters interesting even affirming that you made the right deciscion. Best.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.