Hi Bill,
I would be leaning towards a kit guitar. But I can't tell for sure from those pix. The open book/mustache is not right. The "V" in the middle is too wide, more like a U. The kit guitars came with a rectangular, uncut headstock. If that were the case, anyone could have tried to copy Gibson's headstock. The lawsuit models were spot on in this regard. That said, the lawsuit models did have bolt on necks, but so do the kits.
Here's a kit for reference.
As for the truss rod cover, it's very easy to buy Gibson covers. I'm sure it was too difficult in the 70's or 80's either.
The headstock looks to be in rough shape based on the pic you supplied. Almost looks like one corner is busted off. It also appears to be mahogany. Lawsuit models would have had a black veneer. Looks like just all about the kits I looked at have mahogany (or whatever wood they are using), no black veneers.
The cavity for the pots could shed a little more light.