I certainly would use the good RA hood you have for your Formula. Who cares if it's technically correct for a '71/'72 Bird. None of my cars are concours show cars and they all have 'incorrect' replacement pieces on them. Now, if it was a high dollar nuts & bolts restoration, I could understand finding the correct parts. You have a rare and real RAIII Formula that you want to drive and enjoy, so have fun rebuilding it. I want to see it get done myself.

Dennis

non braced hood.
 

This just popped up and advertised as 1 year only. Im.very confused now. But I know this they are hard to find. Especially in my area.

You have seen on BAT cars sell for big money, and they were not 100% correct
I say who cares as long as you are happy about the car you are restoring

I bought my 1st Pontiac 44yrs ago and became a die-hard enthusiast from that point forward. I was taught by the older guys to "never say never" when it came to how cars were built or optioned back then. I still believe that today. When I bought this car, I figured and still do, that the hood did not come on the car. Having said that, I have found blue paint under the hood vents. The car was originally Atoll. So at the very least, the hood was blue at some point in its life. I also believe that if you're not learning on a daily basis, you're not growing. I did not know about the ridge in the hood inlets, so class is in session! I didn't give the screen bolt holes much thought either. I have both A and F bodies, so I'm always looking for both. I tend to read more than participate, but would like to do more of the latter.

The car is worthy of the correct hood and hopefully I'll come across one.

hood
 

You can always find a non braced hood and simply cut the vents open screen and put ring retains on it. In the past 5 years I have seen only 2 real ra3 hoods for sale but didn't have the knowledge that I now have. I have looked and found nothing. but uncut ones . Good luck finding one. I happy with what I got. Ps. Formula Bruce has correct hardware for the ra hood if you need it

Definitely worthy of a restoration. Great options, and an outstanding color combo!

One of my old cars, a 1970 Formula 400, April 1970 Norwood car with original (unbraced) hood. It had the worst bowed hood I have ever seen.

bowed hood
 

Does the bow cause the hood to lift in the back where it meets the fender edge over the hood hinge?

No, it had a good fit at the front corner and at the rear corner, it was just bowed badly in the center.

bow
 

it's hard to tell , but Im.still learning thou.