I do like to cause problems,at least that's what SWMBO says.My sincerest thanks to all who have contributed to what I thought would be a straight forward answer. So, to summarise, My rail has a hole for the stud but the bonnet was made not to have a stud. The rail end has been cut off at some time and the "tube" end removed. This I shall now have to fabricate and weld back on. The open or trough end should be at the front to facilitate bonnet removal. I may or may not institute a central stud on the hinge to anchor the bonnet more securely using a wing nut to speed up removal. Again thanks to all, Peter.

Location: Piddle Valley

Having had a bonnet lift at medium speed into a severe head wind in another make with huge damage (including to my nerves) I would suffer any slight inconvenience of the tube to front. My guess is that owners were fitting reversed and/or in extreme winds bonnets were moving back anyway so a reversion to the safety strap (not fitted on my RP). On many cars there is now little retaining the ball of the bonnet clips.

Location: Auckland, NZ