No, I don't really think it is faded...it just doesn't have clearcoat (came this way from the factory).

I posted in the SRT forum to see if maybe it is the SRT cars ONLY that don't have clear under the hood. However, I also had an '04 Limited, and it was flat-finish under the hood as well (no clear coat, just base coat). Both of my cars have been Graphite.

It was never repainted...I bought it with the dealer plastic still on it.

Interesting to hear if your cars really do have clearcoat under the hood, or if someone is just mistaken. I need to try an area and see what wax does - maybe it will shine? If so, maybe that's why yours are shiny under the hood - because you've waxed them. I guess I never thought to go as far as to wax underneath the hood because there was no clear coat. I assumed that with just a base coat, I wouldn't get any shine with wax. Maybe I am wrong?

For the record, the following cars I own, and none of them have clearcoat (glossy finish) under the hood:
2000 Ford Focus
2004 Dodge Ram 2500
1991 Mustang
1985 Mustang
2004 Crossfire Limited (sold)
2005 Crossfire SRT

SQ