I don't think the GTX/SportSat upper grille molding sticks out any less than a RR/Sat/Bel does, both are pretty flush with the hood edge.
Are you sure that's not from a '69 or '70? If I recall, the location for that release and the striker changed...
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here! I've run into that but it was 25+ years ago.