Hello:

My friend has a very nicley restored 69 GT500. While photographing it the other day I noticed sometjhing that seems weird.

The hood BULGES in the middle over the carb/air intake to the extent that it doesn't match the fender line. It's up about 3/8". Is this normal or did the restorer not get things right when mounting the carb,ram-air cleaner and the scoop-to-cleaner rubber gasket?

And ... there's no "mesh" backing up the center scoop. Is that normal as well?

Thanks for your help

This is very common in Shelby Mustangs of that vintage. If the hood is original, they were made out of fiberglass and had a tendency to warp as you described. They also did not fit well at the front edge over the grille and headlights. Look at any photo of a restored GT 350/500 with the original hood and probably 90% of them are warped like that. Nothing to worry about, just a fact of life.

I think all of the hood openings should have wire mesh in them but I would not swear to that.

same holds true for the 67 & 68 shelbys