If you're a car lover, you must be aware of the rich history most big car companies boast. The likes of Ferrari, Volkswagen, Ford, and more, all started from scratch at one point. However, American Motors Corporation (AMC) is a forgotten legend from the past. Established in 1954, the American company's reign didn't last too long. But it gave us a number of gems during its short reign. And one such classic gem was the stunning AMC Marlin. The two-door luxury car was one of the most popular automobiles back in the 1960s.
Planning to buy this old-age AMC classic? Here's everything you need to know about the AMC Marlin.
The Ultimate Luxury Car In The '60s
The AMC Marlin was the ultimate luxury car back in the '60s. The exclusively available, twin-door luxury automobile was initially a halo car for American Motors. In its debut year, this classic gem was marketed as "Rambler Marlin". However, post-1966, the designers retained only the Marlin identification and the car grew popular as the AMC Marlin. The genesis of this classic can almost entirely be attributed to Roy Abernethy, the company's (then) new CEO. As the successor to George Romney, Roy sought to shift the company policy from economical compact cars to luxurious fastback models, built on AMC's intermediate-sized Rambler Classic platform. The idea was to build a car that could compete with the "Big Three": GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Billed as a new addition to AMC's self-styled model line "Sensible Spectaculars", the Marlin was officially unveiled at Rambler dealer showrooms in March 1965, after extensive merchandising and advertising campaigns.
The first generation of this classic car - termed as Rambler Marlin - was launched soon after its unveiling. A total of 14,874 models were built between 1965 and 1966. A mid-sized twin-seater as it was, the car hit the ground running among buyers who were attracted to its impressive engine options and horsepower generation capacity. The company also offered a wide array of transmission variants. You could go for a 3-speed manual (optionally available with overdrive) or the exclusive 1965 twin-stick console. In 1966, the company introduced a 4-speed manual option too. At 112 inches, the Marlin featured a relatively large wheelbase for a twin-seater. The classic car boasted a relatively spacious cabin. Despite the gigantic size of the car, the makers gave the car nimble feet, thanks to a dry weight of just 3000 lbs. The second (and final) generation of the AMC Marlin was launched in 1967, and only 2,545 second-gen cars were ever built. The most powerful engine available on the second-gen AMC Marlin was a 343 cu in (5.6L) V8 4-bbl, capable of making 280 horsepower. Transmission options were largely the same as the previous-gen. The wheelbase saw an increase by 6 inches, while the car itself grew by about 7 inches in length and 3 inches in width.
Racing History
Several muscle cars were sought after in the 1960s for motorsport campaigns. However, the AMC Marlin made its own way to the race venues without any factory support. Roy Abernethy strongly opposed and prohibited corporate sponsored events where speed and adrenaline were glamorized and glorified. The company even ran an ad claiming they don’t enter car-racing because the only race they cared about was the "human race". Thus, the Marlin had no direct means of entering the car racing world. However, the AMC Marlin managed to get sponsored into auto-racing by AMC dealerships, where it proved its mettle. Dubbed as the "Bill Kraft Rambler" within the racing sphere, it achieved drag-racing fame with Preston Honea. Powered by a highly-modified 6.8L, 327 V8 engine, the Marlin ran at a top speed of 112 mph at the Fofana drag strip. The following year, this classic beast ran a 10.31-second quarter mile at 138mph. Driven by Roy Haslam, the Marlin even won the July Cup at the Super Stock in Canada and the US.
Special Versions & Legacy
Several American designers used the Marlin to make a few operational show cars focused on glamour and luxury. One of these was the infamous "Black Marlin" - a smoothly finished black version of the car with a sleek and stylish interior. The AMC Marlin was a regular at auto shows in 1965, touring with attractive young women, peculiarly dressed as sailors. The Tahiti version of the AMC Marlin toured across several auto shows in 1966. Other special versions included the "Marlin-II", George Barris' custom Rambler Marlin, and "Billy the Marlin" - the famous mascot car at the Pro Player Stadium.
The AMC Marlin's reign might have been short-lived but it boasts a huge fan following among car enthusiasts across the globe. In fact, such was the attraction of the Marlin back in the '60s, that it bought prospective customers to dealerships and showrooms to buy other AMC cars too. The company recorded a mammoth $5.2 million in profits in Marlin's first year as its showstopper. Today, the AMC Marlin is among the rarest classic cars in the world. If you're lucky, you might be able to get your hands on one of these classic AMC models for less than $20,000. As per a report, the lowest recorded sale price for an AMC Marlin was $8,800 back in 2020.