I wouldn't count on the car cover to protect your metal if you are stripping paint and planning to refinish the car. If you do not have a shop you are going to need to work one panel at a time until you have the whole car ready. Strip followed by a washprimer or epoxy primer to protect the metal. If using epoxy, polyester filler can be put right over the top of many brands and will protect the metal. Washprimers are acid etching and will have to be sanded off anywhere you put filler as the filler will not stick to it. When done working for the day, you have to put epoxy or washprimer back on to protect it again. One last thing--work with one or the other, but not both (washprimer or epoxy) as they are not compatible together. This method takes more materials than if you have a shop and can do larger sections over days or weeks, but it is how I worked before I had garage space of my own.
My coupe is stored at a storage yard, in an outside space. I use a good quality cloth cover that breathes. (You don't want moisture to be trapped under the cover). I then place blocks of foam on top of the cover then place a plastic tarp over the whole car. The plastic will shed the rain water and the airspace created by the foam blocks keeps air circulating. This system has worked well for over 3 years. I do have to change the plastic tarp yearly due to the sun damaging it. This system has withstood the heaviest rains here in So Cal and left the cover underneath bone dry.