The only thing better than one 1965 Rambler Marlin would be two of them! Ok, I guess matching the Powerball numbers or world peace (see the order that I put those in?) would be better. These two project Marlins are on Craigslist in Massillon, Ohio with an asking price of $4,000. Thanks to Pat L. for sending in this tip!
That’s such an epic, iconic, and/or (insert other trendy descriptor here) view of these cars. In 1965 they were known as the Rambler Marlin and after that they were badged as just Marlin. They were only made until 1967 and the 1967 models were quite a departure from the first two years with the use of the AMC Ambassador front clip. I personally prefer the Rambler moniker so 1965 is my favorite version.
The seller says that these cars have “been in garage the past 35 years.” They do look pretty solid and complete but you can see that it’ll be more than a quick project to bring them back to life again.
The seller says that the first of the two cars “has factory disc brakes. decent interior. very restorable”. They don’t show any interior photos other than the one above and one showing the overdrive lever. One is a three-speed manual and one is an automatic.
Both cars have AMC’s 232 cubic-inch inline-six which would have had 155 hp. They say that the first car runs and drives but they don’t know if the other car runs or not, unfortunately. If they were V8 cars they would really be quite a find but hopefully they can be saved by a Rambler or AMC fan despite having the smallest engine available. Are there any fans of the Marlin out there?
It would be nice to see them both restored but that would be a huge undertaking. I think that the styling is so unique on these it makes me wonder why they weren’t more popular. I’d leave the six bangers in and have them rebuilt. I can’t help wonder how well they’d run if converted to port fuel injection, it would really clean them up and may even improve fuel milage. One of the draw backs to the inline 6 is fuel distribution, in order to get enough fuel to #1 and #6 cylinders you’d have to run #3 and #4 rich. But with port injection you could correct that. When I was in high school I worked at a local ESSO station pumping gas and I distinctly remember regular was at $0.73 an imperial gallon which is bigger than a US gallon. How times have changed that same gallon up here in Canada in my area is running at about $5.30 and going up. Driving a big block is becoming a rich mans sport. Anyway back to the Merlins. Wouldn’t it be cool to show these cars together all cleaned up and shining, in their original colour of course. Great find.
Unfortunately, their “unique styling” is exactly why they WEREN’T more popular. Look at the similarly styled ‘66-67 Dodge Charger—they’re not even close to the ‘68-on models in terms of sales then, or popularity now. I love the Marlin’s looks (Dick Teague was a genius), but unfortunately, it was too big to compete with cars like the Mustang (the concept Tarpon’s original purpose), and it just wasn’t powerful enough to compete with the personal luxury cars from the Big Three (428 powered Thunderbirds, 409 Impalas, the 421 powered Grand Prix, 440 Fury, etc). Those factors pretty much sealed its fate…
A shoal of Marlins…..rare.
You wouldn’t want to be caught jigging your chub when a school of them moves through.
Looks like the seller has at least 2 other old cars as well – I see a late ’60s Ford and a car from the late 30s (I’m guessing) in the background as well. I grew up about 20-30 miles from Massillon and I’m amazed that anything this old ever survived this long in the salt-rich environment of Ohio.
Hopefully the second one isn’t too far gone to save. Yeah, those typhoon sixes served AMC quite well for many years, so don’t lose them. They probably didn’t catch on because the stubby Classic front clip hampered its proportions.
Sadly, both cars have rust issues, and being sixes, they’ll be a labour of love for someone rather than a profit-maker.
Interesting that the manually-shifted version is not a Twin-Stick.
I recall that Marlins – like other AMC products – weren’t taken seriously by 1960s car enthusiasts. Personally, I think the original Tarpon concept car was a nicer design, but without the availability of the next-generation V8 (290-401) to power it, the decision was made to put the fastback roof on the Classic body shell.
I’m with Canadianmarkseh. I think it’s a valid project but would require deep pockets and lots of time. It’s also interesting that he/she suggests fuel injection sixes which is a much better idea. If it’s professionally done you will be North of $38,000.00 American and have one or maybe one and a half very unique cars that you can drive and enjoy. I would have to have Vintage Air and Heat because of my climate (hot Summers) and would choose the automatic because I’m 80 years old.
Wonder if Sterling will be interested. Paint them both up in the yellow #4 Kodak colours from his 1994/1995 Daytona wins.
Hiss. Boo. Get off the stage.
Making drivetrain modifications on these is a major undertaking due to the torque-tube drive. Installing a more modern engine along with a transmission not designed for the car would mean having to fabricate a new, open-driveline rear suspension. (It has been done. Some change to leaf springs, some put in ladder bars to locate the rear axle. Not a simple swap by any means.)
Don’t barracudas eat Marlins?
Of course it’s going to be a labor of love, people don’t wake up one day thinking, “I’d love to have a Marlin”. A shame this person didn’t get to enjoy their Marlin. The 6, 3 speed, O/D one makes perfect sense today, as long as you aren’t in a hurry. The “twin stick” did basically the same thing as the O/D knob. Someone wasn’t impressed by the 2 stick glitz, or didn’t want the console. I suppose it’s natural these days for people to be afraid of carburetors, they are a pain, but all the work needed to convert to F.I. wouldn’t be worth it. As is, this setup would get high 20’s easy. Same with the torque tube. It’s an added step on clutch replacement, but not the end of the world. I think some of you “car collectors” are getting a bit soft. BTW, I’m one of those few people who wakes up thinking, “I’d love a Marlin”!!
I don’t know about getting soft, I’d say ppl are getting old ! Old was the reason I sold my 67 Chevelle !
My brother had one new in 65, with the 327, and the “Flash-O-Matic” auto, console and bucket seats. It was awesome, and as a 10 year old, I thought
it was the coolest car around.
His was red, with white, which I haven’t seen since. I have seen just red with black. Anyway, this seems to be a nice find, but like others have said, they would be a labor of love. I would restore one, and soup up the other.
I think one can put a 4.0 Jeep head with the fuel injection and everything on this engine. You would have to be a better engineer than me, but it has been done
This has to be one of the ugliest cars of all-time!
Wow most definitely not my cup of tea they looked terrible when they came out and storage has done nothing for them. Scrap metal in my book
These Marlins are awesome!! We got are Marlin about 2 1/2 years ago and have been driving the wheels off it ever since!!, We just got back from AMO Nationals in Auburn, Indiana with the Marlin(a 1500 mile trip!!). Marlins are very unique cars and deserved to be saved and driven. We have been to car shows with 8000+ cars and we had the only Marlin!! It’s true they will never be “worth it” to restore,but they are cheap to buy (we paid $5000 for a running 1965 ,327 4 bbl ,needed about $1500 to make it roadworthy) and you don’t have to restore it to enjoy it. At a car show, people walk by fully restored cars on either side us to appreciate a Marlin that needs a complete restoration!! I hope somebody buys these cars and puts them back on the road where they belong!
I remember when theses cars came out. I remember thinking, looks like someone stole Mopars body style for the Charger and tried making a cheaper model. BTW didn’t like the Chargers either. I was in the U.S Army at the time and my pay grade wasn’t in the category of new car owners. But as I think back, I seem to remember I like the 65 Impala best. Oh well, just an old fart reminiscing of times gone by.
How is that possible when this car came out before the Charger?
You might be right. I was overseas when these cars hit the market but still it doesn’t matter who came out first it’s who was on the drawing board first.
I think you mean the other fish, the Barracuda
When I was about 15 there was a 66 (I think) Marlin for sale at a small lot by me, I begged my father to stop and look at it, but he wouldn’t. It was white with a blue interior, and beautiful. I found out years later a friend actually bought it and drove it for a couple years. I was still jealous years later. Love these !
One thing I’ll say about a Ohio car tucked in a garage for years, the humidity here is terrible. My Mustang actually will be wet on the bottom of the car sometimes. Now imagine it happening almost every day for years without moving. I’d get under that car and look real good !
I suspect this car has had some brake system updates to it, as my information indicates the disc brake setup didn’t come out on AMC vehicles until 1969, and then only on the Hurst SC/Rambler. The dual master cylinder did come out in 1967, as per federal law.
Wrong on both counts. AMC cars came standard with dual master cylinder starting in 1962, in the absence of any regulations requiring it. (I believe that Studebaker and Cadillac also went to dual masters around this time as well.)
Additionally, AMC offered power front disc brakes on their larger cars starting in 1965, and the ’65 Marlin came with them standard. (The standard discs were dropped for the 1966 and 1967 Marlins as a cost-reduction measure in an attempt to stimulate sales. It didn’t work.)
The disc brake system used was from Bendix and utilized a fixed 4-piston caliper and solid rotors. There was no proportioning valve used for the rear drums. Instead, a strange “non-servo” drum brake was used which as far as I know was never used on anything else and for which parts are no longer available. (The fix is to install standard-type Bendix rear drums and plumb in a proportioning valve. Parts for the front discs are expensive but available.)
AMC Guy,
Thanks for the correction! I got my information from that “infallible” source: Wikipedia. It indicated the disc brakes were first available only on the SC/Rambler. With your AMC knowledge & background, you might want to approach Wikipedia and submit a correction request.
I know of a former CEO of Verizon who had one when he started out as a Splicers Helper in 1966.
I’d make one original restored using parts from both, and turn the other into a cool resto mod or custom car…. best of both worlds, as long as there’s 2 of them.
Would look good hanging from a huge fish hook on a really big fishing pole over the entrance to to the Gulf of Mexico.
Always thought the 67’s were when they got the style & proportion right. They all should have had buckets & consoles to make the interior live up to the exterior promise.