When Ford introduced the Fastback Mustang, it started a new trend in automotive styling. Nearly every manufacture came out with at least one car with a fastback style roof. In the early ’60s AMC worked to create an image of economy for itself, but by the mid ’60s they wanted to have a more youthful and sporting image, so they started building sportier cars like the Marlin and Javelin. This 1967 AMC Marlin was found in an old garage in Texas and was moved to Minnesota to be restored. The owner has never gotten around to restoring it, so they have decided to sell it. It can be found here on eBay.
For ’67, AMC introduced the GEN-II V8 in the Marlin. The new 343 cui V8 that was offered for ’67 came in two trim levels. This car has the higher powered engine with the four barrel carburetor and is rated at 280 hp. When the seller got the car they didn’t try starting it, but they recently tried and surprisingly it runs well. It will obviously need work to be drivable, but having it running will make the restoration process a little easier.
The interior looks complete, but needs some attention. It has the basket weave seats and still has the original Vibratone radio. The seller has a Marlin parts car that has some of the parts this car needs, but is asking an extra $2,000 for the complete car. Sadly, the parts car has a different style interior, so it may not be of much use on this front.
We think the ’67 is the best looking year for the Marlin, but sadly it is also the rarest. Due to financial issues, AMC had to cut back production right after introducing the redesigned car. These car’s aren’t super valuable, but there is a dedicated group of collectors. The seller has most of the hard to find pieces for the car, but is selling them separately. Given the current market value of these cars, this one might be a labor of love, but it is a solid car to start with. What do you think? Is it solid enough to be a realistic project? Or does it need too much work to be realistic?
We used to call these (along with the similar-looking Dodge Charger), “fastback panel trucks.”
~ the original AMC Marlin prototype (Tarpon, i think) was based on the American body making it quite attractive and closer to the size of Barracuda, Camaro, Mustang. still plenty of room for their beefiest V8 and much lighter than the Ambassador version.
~ much better looking, agreed?
http://www.carstyling.ru/en/car/1964_american_motors_tarpon/
These were not great cars, though very slick looking for their time. Basically in the beginning, a Rambler Classic with a fastback. I had one of those wonderful laminated 3-D post cards of a brand new 1965 red Marlin when I was a kid.
I think this would make a nice project for the AMC fan. One problem i see is it looks like it was in a hail storm. That could bring the cost to restore to maybe more then it’s worth. but still a very nice “Barn Find”. Would love to see the finished project.
Hi guys. This is my car. The comments here are interesting. I’m amazed at the lore and rumors that follow these cars around. Fact is, most people have a tidbit of info and make it into a story. The tidbit is usually correct, it’s the story thats off. Unfortunately most AMC people have not been able to organize well, the documentation is spotty, and the forums and clubs, are splintered, and lack of people interested in straightening it all out. That goes part and parcel with the heavily biased interest in the more popular models like the AMX, leaving great cars like the 1967 Marlin languishing, and slowly disappearing. The fact about this car is it was a newly tooled model based on the Ambassador /Rebel intermediate chassis, and shared most of the same parts. When AMC decided to join the performance car race with the big 3 using their new “Typhoon” 290/343 V-8 this car should have been a shoo in. But AMC’s split personality management wanted to have their performance, but push it as a “family car” so they wouldn’t alienate their “economy minded ” base. Times were bad for the company then, so they decided to “cut” the Marlin for the less sporty looking Ambassador/Rebel. It was limited to 2545 units available by special order only. The “pony” car was making rapid inroads, as most were available in 6 cylinder models as well as high performance V-8′s , and in 1968 the Javelin/AMX with 390 V-8 was born putting the final nail in the high performance big car coffin. Unfortunately, my Marlin is one of the only totally rust free 1967 Marlin bodies left. I was quoted 600 bucks to repair the hail damage to the main body, and i have pieces like the hood/trunk fenders that are undamaged. After a dismal auction offering i decided i would keep the car and restore it. If i were able to show people point by point what a great car this is, it should be worth several times what i was offered, but AMC’ers and the general public are still in the dark ages. I can tell you for a fact that part for part a 1969 Roadrunner, or 1967 GTO has nothing on this car. And of course if the Roadrunner had a hemi, or the GTO had a 3 deuce 389 they would beat the pants off my 343 in the quarter. But if you were to place a nicely prepped 390 or 401 AMC motor in the Marlin it would be a fair fight with a better than average chance of beating them both. Yes i said it. And all i can say is if you’ve never raced a Hi-Po AMC car you don’t know what you are talking about. If you have……..you DO know what i’m talking about. I’m not saying they are all around better cars, but they are certainly their equal. And if the AMC’ers don’t get their crap together, and their documentalion/organization straight the world will never know, the cars will fade away, and historians will one day spout the falsehood that AMC was a cheaper division of Chrysler, and a million other pieces of nonsense.
@ Brian
You seem passionate about this/these cars, good for you.
May I just suggest to tone down the Ebay text.
iT SEEMS YOU’RE ‘SCREAMING, THE WHOLE TIME …
Good luck with the project.
My favorite is the 1965. But WOW u guys did Good!!! Only 2,547 were produced
It might seem like i’m “Screaming” but it’s more like “sounding the alarm”. Chrysler started the death sentence when they bought AMC, and then promptly shut AMC car production down, save for Jeep. They then destroyed everything that was left of production, and factory, to ensure they could never “come back” and be a threat to Chryslers sales. Without support and documentation AMC people were left to fend for themselves. Over time documentation, and organization have slowly appeared, but is spread out over the 4 corners of the earth, in several forums, blogs, and a cornucopia of different organizations. I have been an AMC’er for over 20 years and have watched interest increase in these cars, but sadly, many have been, and are still being neglected, and hundreds go to the crusher each year. It’s to the extent that ANY AMC car can be considered rare, as in most cases, there are few of any particular model left. Of course there are exceptions, but at some point you won’t be looking at these cars on the street or at a show, but at a museum, or in some millionaires’ private collection. At some point there won’t be enough of them to go around to the average Joe.