Paint questions...

I have sprayed lacquer and a nasty aircraft two-part paint in the past. What is the preferred type of paint these days for repainting cars? Including primer. I have heard of "base and clear", but how does that differ from enamel? What about the newer HVLP guns? Are they any better that the old LVHP guns? I have the latter and am curious about the former. Geeze, so many questions.

I might take a chance on painting the Barracuda myself instead of spending many thousands for a good paint job. I have seen references made to the chain paint shops (MAACO and Earl Scheib), but how good is their paint and prep? I want to paint the car completely, inside and out, and I wonder whether those types of shops could deal with a car in pieces.

I am thinking of a smoked silver color for the car with GTX side stripes.