That looks like Mopar's first effort at a P/S scoop. As time went on, and you can see it in early P/S pics, they eventually built a "ramp" up to the opening, im an effort to get above the dead air at surfave level, then went to a snorkel style scoop which obviosly worked better to what is used, still, today a very fancy & modified version of the basic snorkel scoop. You can find details of the enginner's work in the old old Mopar chassis manual.