Camp,
I doubt there is/was any issue with the front clip or any part thereof. Right after I sold it, the buyer disassembled it and sent it to Paul's Classics in Ohio for the resto. Obviously, I can't say for certain what happened after I sold it or what the reason was for replacing the fender. It is purely conjecture, but my guess is that it was easier to replace the fender with an NOS fender rather than have to straighten any deformities/dents in the original. I don't recall any issues and I can't see any in the pictures. Bear in mind that the black NOS fenders and Driver's side Fastback rear qtrs were still available from Ford (and pretty inexpensive). I can say without equivocation that all three VINs were on the aprons and they were never monkeyed with. The reason the Shelby tag was missing was simply because the knuckleheaded second owner removed it and lost it.