One of the most interesting and unique designs of the last 60 years, the Marlin of Rambler and AMC fame would almost always be a crowd-pleaser at car shows today. This nice-looking, first-year 1965 Rambler Marlin is posted here on craigslist in beautiful Redding, California, and the seller is asking $11,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Tony P. for the tip!
This Marlin has the smallest engine and an automatic transmission, so it may not be as desirable, but its condition may make up for that. It looks incredible in the photos, other than what is said to be the only rust spot on the car, just ahead of the left rear wheel well, as seen here. They have included several underside photos, and it appears to have been coated, so hopefully it’s as solid as it looks. Sadly, it appears that this car was originally red and has been repainted gray. That’s only sad for those of us who appreciate original spec vehicles, of course.
The smaller, sleeker Tarpon concept car was morphed into the production Marlin, elongating the roofline to make it practical for four passengers, thus making it a bit less graceful than the smaller Tarpon. They only came in this one body style, but… (scratching gray chin hairs), what if they made a four-door sedan version? The seller has a huge list of work that has been done to this car, so please check out the listing to see everything. The Marlin was a Rambler in its debut year of 1965, then it became an AMC for the next two years before it went away.
The seats look like new because they are new, and look like they fit in with what would have been there originally, at least the pattern. They appear a shade lighter than the rest of the interior, but they look good both front and rear. The small trunk isn’t shown. The seller says this car was bought new in California and has lived its entire life in Reno, Nevada. Well, not its entire life as it’s shown as now being in Redding, California.
The clean engine compartment is home to the smallest engine available in this car, an AMC 232-cu.in. OHV inline-six, which had 155 horsepower and 222 lb-ft of torque when new. Backed by a Borg Warner three-speed automatic, the seller doesn’t say how it runs, but I’m assuming it works as great as it looks. Any thoughts on this ’65 Marlin?
I have always liked Marlins. I remember seeing them on the road as a kid and loving that roof line. Scotty. The 4 door you drew up really works well with the roof line. In fact. I’m going out on a limb here, I think I like it better than the 2 door!!! The 4 door just fills in the space with the lines really nicely.
The large back windows of the 2 door really blend well with a 4 door version Scotty. It looks natural, and I’m thinking if AMC had a 4 door. They would have sold me one back then..
You are way too kind, sir, thanks much! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a Rambler or AMC Marlin in person.
They should possibly even have done 4 doors instead of 2. It would’ve filled in a 4 door hardtop model gap and been something that might have hit that AMC sweet spot of being popular enough to make money but not enough so for GM, Ford and Mopar to compete with.
I think Scotty could make a lot of money just by improving the design of other peoples cars. I have always loved a Marlin, principally due to the rear view, but now having seen the picture of the side view showing the four doors I think it’s a vast improvement on the original design and if they had brought out a four door at the same time as the two door I’m sure it would have been a teriffic seller!
@Scotty: It’s getting to the point where I anticipate the Photoshops as much as I appreciate the cars featured when I see your name!! That black Marlin 4 door really looks sleek, compared to the frumpy looking gray real one. The hump in the roof line (because the AMC boss at the time felt one should be able to wear a hat!) and the fact that the design was for a smaller car platform makes it look awkward. GLWTS!! :-)
Well, I hate to rain on this little party, but we didn’t need Scottys cool renditions, the Marlin was hideous enough as it was. Growing up with these gives me the credibility to make such a statement, and we never saw ANY! I distinctly remember, when these were introduced, it was supposed to shake up the industry, and in a way it did, with the Tarpon being the 1st real fastback, but we were embarrassed and quickly became the butt of all Rambler jokes, more so. At almost $3grand new, only about 10,000 were sold, most with a V8, so this car, only 2600 were made. I know, $11gs, but it’s such an unusual car, there are certain cars people will talk about into the next century,, the Corvair, the Mustang, the 454 Chevelle, the GTO, the Edsel and the Marlin.
Dad brought a 1965 Marlin home. He was the only one in the family that liked it. It was a 6 cylinder 3 on the tree. We celebrated when he sold it. I would enjoy one now. I would prefer a V8 with a stick.
Nice Marlin! (Of course it’s really a Rambler Classic under that awkward-looking fastback roof.) Looks like this one has no power steering so there will be lots of action needed on that huge steering wheel hustling this fish around corners. However power front disc brakes were standard for 1965, very unusual for the time. The 232 six, which had no performance-choking emission controls back then, should move this along pretty nicely.
I always liked the looks of Marlins but I too like Scotty’s 4 door version better than the 2 door.
However, I did not know that Rambler (or anybody) was still using a torque tube drive in ’65
Rambler did not get rid of the torque tube on its larger models until the 1967 model year. Trunnions in the front suspension lasted until the end of 1969 production and vacuum windshield wipers as standard did not go away until 1972. I’m not sure how long the company held onto manual transmissions with non-synchronized first gear but I’m pretty sure it was well into the 1970s.
AMC brass ruined Dick Teagues Tarpon design when they insisted on lengthening the car. I still really like the Marlin and the 4 door is interesting to say the least but they should have went with the original concept. This example is a very nice car and I don’t mind the grey paint. The 232 six is actually more uncommon then the V8 and AMC built far less 232 then the V8 examples. I prefer the 65s over the later models. Another car I would be interested in acquiring if the stable was not full.
This is way cooler than a Pacer. It should be possible to coax some additional power from that six.
Same concept that Charger came out with a year AFTER the Marlin. Just that Dodge upgraded the Coronet grille with hidden headlights, and it was an instant hit.
I used to wash/wax a neighbor’s ’65 Red/Blk Marlin that had a 327 4bbl auto. Took it for a spin and it FLEW…and then used power brakes for the 1st time!
Memorable.
Nice looking car. It would be more pleasing with white stripe tires or fancy wheels.
A car that always looked good from some angles and ungainly from others.
Most ads were from the rear.
After just watching the excellent AMC documentary last night, all I can think of is how the AMC executive told them to raise the roofline by an inch and a half after he hit his head when getting into the back seat. That change, along with many others that were made from the original Tarpon, killed the looks of this car.
But, along with the first gen Charger, I still like the looks of these.
My dad was one of the lead stylist on the Tarpon, I can remember him while we were at the dinner table complaining about the executives wanting to raise the roof line on the clay model that would become the Marlin and how disproportionate it made the car look. He took my brother and I into the studio at Plymouth and Hubble in Detroit to see the Tarpon and AMX II.
Was your Dad in the documentary? They had several designers on and speaking about their work with AMC.
I like it in that gray color. If I had owned one, I might have painted it that shade of gray.