Wow! Seems like a lot. How many of us are still running brass radiators that require a $400+ re-core when you can buy a Aluminum one from China for $200.
I think the re-core people are fading away into Americana. It may be hard to get one done for that show car in month/years to come.
As I am sure you know, even a brass new unit is less than the price you mention. But, for a concours car, it would be pretty much a necessity to have a everything but perhaps the core be OEM Fomoco.
last year i paid right around $400 for a recore, because I wanted to keep my original radiator. The guy I had do mine said he wouldn’t suggest fixing the new alum. ones for the fact that it would be cheaper to buy another one unless of course it was a simple repair. I live in Iowa and asked around on the other website to see what the going price was too. If you find a confident person to do it for under $400 I’d do it for the reason you stated and that’s because not many people are doing it anymore.