Have seen/found these on GT and non-GT's California cars over the years - May be an early late issue but lets not go down that road in this thread. It is the same base as a 390 T bird built for California. A popular base that is used to make fake 428CJ air cleaners with. Was an easy part to pick up from local yard over the years. Think there are a half dozen out in storage
The lid on a Mustang application would have been chrome have found originals with the blue decal and the reddish orange style decal.
Yes the adhesive you found on the drivers side of the base is where the AUTOLITE air filter decal went originally
The decal on the snorkel is from a aftermarket NOX kit that was required for a time in the 80's
NOS base
Air Cleaner from a 390 GTA I owned in the 80's