A support mechanism supports a hood in a raised position with respect to a vehicle to which the hood is pivotally coupled. The mechanism includes two pairs of arm members which are pivotally coupled to each other by a central pivot pin, and which are coupled between the vehicle and the vehicle hood. A flat coil spring is coiled around the central pivot pin and is attached to the arm members. The spring is biased to pivot one pair of arms and in turn the hood upwardly.