Good intentions are a wonderful thing, and the owner of this 1967 AMC Marlin had plenty of them when he purchased the car in 1988. He aimed to perform a total restoration, but things stalled before they could start. He has finally admitted defeat and acknowledging that he has too many projects, he has listed this one for sale here on eBay. Barn Finder Larry D once again demonstrates his ability to spot a gem, so thank you for referring the Marlin to us, Larry. It is located in Delano, Minnesota, and the bidding has reached $3,350 in this No Reserve auction.

Developed and marketed as a “personal luxury car,” the Marlin’s production run was short but sweet. Introduced for the 1965 model year, the car only remained on the market until the end of 1967. Our feature car is from that final year, and in its prime, it would’ve looked stunning in a combination of Strato Blue and Royal Blue. There is enough of the original paint left on the vehicle to provide some idea of the impact this car made, although a repaint will undoubtedly form part of the restoration process. The panels wear a few bruises and marks, although none of them are particularly bad. The exterior trim looks like it would respond positively to some TLC, and the glass is in good order.

I haven’t mentioned the subject of rust to this point, and that’s because there isn’t much of a story to tell. The panels look pretty clean for a vehicle of this age, and any minor bubbles would be easy for the buyer to address with small patches. The news gets even better when we climb under the car and take a look around. The floors and frame have some mild surface corrosion, but there’s no evidence of penetrating rust. That makes this Marlin a prime candidate for restoration in a home workshop.

It seems that this AMC is a numbers-matching car that comes equipped with a 290ci V8, a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. This is the lowest-spec version of the 290, but it could still punch out a healthy 200hp in its prime. Although the company’s aim wasn’t to produce an outright muscle car, its 17.5-second ¼-mile ET still reflected well on a vehicle with luxury leanings. Unfortunately, the Marlin doesn’t currently run, although the owner has attempted to revive it. He got the 290 spluttering on starting fluid, but it appears that the starter then gave up the ghost. He’s pretty candid about the fact that due to the extended hibernation, the vehicle will probably need a complete mechanical rebuild before it could be deemed roadworthy. The buyer will probably consider pulling the drivetrain to reseal everything, so that would be a perfect time to inspect all of the components and refresh anything that has a question mark hanging over it.

The Marlin’s interior is complete, but once again, it will need some work if the buyer is to return it to its former glory. By today’s standards, it doesn’t look particularly luxurious. However, contemporary reports indicate that motoring journalists found it pretty impressive. The seats are upholstered in a combination of Blue vinyl and brocade cloth, while the remaining trim is two-tone vinyl. Sadly, the seats have developed some splits, so they and the carpet will need to be replaced. The remaining trim looks like it might respond positively to a deep clean, but the dash pad could present a problem. It has cracked to the point where I believe a DIY restoration might be out of the question. I have searched for a replacement but have had no luck. I also think that the ’67 Ambassador pad is the same, so that is another option to investigate. Otherwise, it will need to be handed to a professional, which could lighten the buyer’s wallet to the tune of $1,000. The wheel is cracked, but that is an issue that the buyer could tackle in a home workshop. The rest of the dash looks pretty good and appears to need nothing,

With such a low build total and a short production run, finding a solid 1967 AMC Marlin project car can be a battle. Even though a mere 2,545 examples were built during that final model year, they don’t command a huge price. If you can locate a pristine example, it will struggle to fetch $25,000 in today’s market. That means that potential buyers will have to proceed carefully if this restoration is to remain financially viable. There is one other option that potential buyers might consider. Since returning the car to a mechanically healthy state looks straightforward and the body is essentially rust-free, the buyer could consider reviving the drivetrain, throwing blankets over the seats, and driving the car as an original survivor. I can guarantee that it would turn as many heads in that form as it would meticulously restored. Which path would you follow?