Need help with original air filters

[Mr70]

To answer a question.
No,you can't rip out the front diamond mesh screen,so that only the more desireable square mesh behind it will show.You'll destroy it if you do,and even if you don't,it will look like absolute crap.(ask me how I know)
AC designed it that way,ontop of an A212CW,to help keep even more particle debris away from the paper intake element,when used on heavy duty construction/machine & utility type vehicles,which was the market they were aiming at.
They were toughting the "Highest Performance" slogan for that reason,although the racing flagman was probably added as a way to market this to the street crowd too,as it will fit mutliple Hi-performance cars air cleaners also.
I realize those two different wire mesh barriers look pretty crude by todays standards,but thats how they intended it to be back then.