The painter just finished hand sanding and painting the top frame for my 70 Cuda ragtop. The bow closest to the trunk is bowed in the middle toward the trunk. Is that correct or did it possibly get bent by someone hand closing the top? The framework operates smoothly but if this isn't right, now is the time to address it. Any help or pictures would be appreciated. 72*birdman

If your talking about the cloth top support rails. My 1970 challenger vert. bars are all straight. Send a pic of your issue and I will compare to my top.

I think I found what I needed in my passenger car parts catalog. On section 23-2 and 23-3 the diagram and parts list for Barracuda and Challenger folding tops it only shows 1 part number for all 3 top bows so all 3 should be the same and only the back one was not straight so as I suspect someone along the line pulled on the bow with out any top material to close the top and bent the bow.

I would get a definitive answer before bending it back!
To start, the rear bow is not the same as the others, it is deeper as it takes the tacking strip for the staple which the other bows do not have. I can have a look when I am with the car, but from memory it is pretty straight but may have a very slight curve. Best thing is to post a picture of yours. Others of us with E-body verts should be able to confirm pretty easily if yours is bent.