An air filter construction that provides a high capacity and high efficiency and is suitable for use with high performance automobile internal combustion engines includes a dual filter media in which a semi-rigid fibrous depth filter element is located on the upstream side and the downstream face of the element bears against pleats formed in a pleated paper material. The outer edges of the pleated paper are compressed and joined to the depth element in an air tight compression seal that may be mounted on suitable ledges inside of a suitable air filter housing.