Stored 20+ Years: 1967 AMC Marlin 343 V8

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With just over 2,500 1967 AMC Marlins made, they’re by far the rarest of this three-year model. And some would argue, the most refined and desirable. This example has been hidden away for the last 20+ years, according to the seller. Sadly, that also means that it hasn’t been started or driven in over two decades so there will be work to do for the next owner.

The photos aren’t the best as it’s parked in a narrow storage unit as you can see, but the seller has done a pretty nice job in showing as much of it as they can on both the exterior and interior. I wish we could see more of the front clip as that’s really where the bulk of the design was tweaked for its final year in 1967. An interesting fun fact is that the first-year Marlins were named the Rambler Marlin, but in 1966 and 1967, they were AMC Marlins.

It’s hard to tell what condition the exterior is in but you can see faded paint and a few dings here and there. Originally slated to be a Mustang-sized car, the Tarpon concept was enlarged and it dipped into the intermediate-size car realm. Some may say that the design suffered a bit in that transition, at least in the unusual sloping rear half. I always wondered what a hatchback version would have looked like or if it would have made any difference in sales.

It’s hard to tell what condition the interior is in but overall, it looks good to me. This Marlin reportedly has over 114,000 miles on it, which works out to around 3,100 miles a year for the approximately 37 years this car was in use. The seller says it was first registered in California and hasn’t been driven in ice or snow, so that’s great news. The back seat looks as close to new as can be.

The engine is an AMC 343-cu.in. OHV V8 with 280 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque, and it pushes that power through a Borg Warner three-speed automatic transmission with a column selector. A four-speed manual would have been available as well. This one hasn’t run in two decades but it looks clean and this car has AC, a nice feature. The seller has it listed here on eBay in the great city of Cincinnati, Ohio. There is no reserve and the current bid price is $5,700, this could be a great deal if it doesn’t go over $10,000. Any thoughts on this Marlin?

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Comments

  1. 8banger 8bangerMember

    Ahhh, the venerable 343 Typhoon…

    Like 9
  2. Driveinstile DriveinstileMember

    I remember seeing a Marlin for the first time as a kid in the 70s. I always thought they were cool looking. Under the hood looks very clean for all that time being stored. The steering wheel is unfortunately cracked, and I cant really tell about the dash, but the exterior doesnt look too bad, its hard to tell in the storage locker. Theres an image in the ad with the trunk lid open. That is one small trunk lid!!!. I dont know how much you can fit in there. I never really noticed how small opening is until I saw that photo of the trunk lid open.

    Like 8
    • JoeNYWF64

      What was AMC thinking! I’d rather grocery shop or take a long trip with an ’80s monte ss aeroback or even(worse) its pontiac cousin.

      Like 1
      • Joe

        Do you have a monte carlo ss ?

        Like 0
      • JoeNYWF64

        No, but i seen how tiny the trunk openings are, espec on the Pontiac aero version, tho the big trunks remain.

        Like 0
    • Bob Lays

      Steering wheels are easy to restore and that cracking happened a lot in the sixties. The trunk lid is quite small but the trunk will hold a boatload of small stuff!

      Like 1
  3. Fred

    I’ve seen a few at car shows over the years. They’re a striking car, very much unlike anything else. If I was a rich man with unlimited space there’d be one in my collection. This one’s got potential.

    Like 12
  4. Car Nut Tacoma

    Lovely looking car. I used to know someone who had a small collection of AMC Marlins. One looked like brand new, like it had been bought from an AMC/Rambler dealer back in 1966-67. Assuming the car runs and drives safely and everything on this car works like they should, this should be an awesome car to drive. There’s nothing wrong with patina, as long as there’s no holes in the body or the chassis. Given its condition, I’d pay around the $5,700 for the car. That should leave you with enough money to do other things with the car as needed.

    Like 5
  5. Don Leblanc

    A pretty rare for sure. I wonder how hard it would be to get a new front windshield ?

    Like 3
    • That AMC guy

      There’s a good chance it shares the same windshield as 1967-1978 Rebel/Matador/Ambassador (except convertibles and 1974+ Matador coupe). Still not exactly common but a better situation than if the windshield is unique to the ’67 Marlin. (You’d likely need to dig up an AMC parts book to be sure – they’re out there.)

      Like 5
      • Larry D*

        Maybe just call Safelight?

        Like 1
      • bone

        If you can find an old Hollander interchange book you’ll have all the answers you’ll need

        Like 2
  6. Greg GustafsonMember

    Wow, that trunk is spacious.

    Like 1
    • Fox owner

      Exactly what I thought. That picture looks. Odd. There may be space to either side of the opening but how do you get anything in or out bigger than a duffel bag? I do like this car though.

      Like 0
  7. RMac

    Looks like it is a column shift auto not console as it looks like and armrest between the front seats not a console and pretty sure I can see the lever sticking out of the steering column.
    Regardless of that it’s a cool find and I agree its well worth it if it stays under 10k more in the charger scale than mustang or barracuda fast backs of that era

    Like 5
    • Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

      Arrrrgh, stupid fingers. Thanks for the correction, RMac!

      Like 0
  8. Michael Tischler

    Of all the cars listed today this is the one I’d like to have.

    Like 7
  9. Allen L

    If you are going to hook a Marlin, this is the best catch.
    The Ambassador style front end modernizes the look so much.
    And the 343 is a much better engine than the old Rambler 327.
    And should you want to hotrod it, you can slip in an AMC 401, no problem.

    I used to think of buying one hotrodding it, painting it a silver metal, and getting a personalized license plate reading “STERLING,” because the DMV wouldn’t likely allow “COO COO.”

    Like 9
    • JDC

      God, I hope no one ruins it by hotrodding it. These are so uncommon. There are tons of Mustangs and Camaros out there if someone wants to ruin aomething.

      Like 9
      • JoeNYWF64

        & put LS’s in, & big ugly wheels & tires on it – that’s why i stopped my Hemmings Muscle Machines mag subscription.

        Like 8
      • Allen L

        I’d keep it all AMC, in other words a day two hotrod.
        (With perhaps adding an efi kit that looks like a 4bbl carb, an Petronix.)

        Like 1
  10. Scott

    It seems like they might fetch a little more money if they rolled the car out and took a picture of the whole thing.

    Like 13
  11. JOHN NEWELL

    The 1967 Marlin shares a lot of parts with the 1967, 68, 69 and 70 Rebel. I make body panels for these cars now and then. Right now they are the second most popular build after the Rebel Machine. For those interested in raw power and handling, the Machine’s power train and suspension bolt right in with only minor modifications. This version of the Marlin was at one time considered to be the body of choice for the Machine. That decision was left so late that the image of the Machine on the press release envelope is that of a Marlin with the Red, White and Blue stripe kit on it.

    The interiors of these cars are some of the finest ever produced for domestic cars. The cars produced today have boring gray interiors and no flair.

    Like 11
  12. JDC

    Love the looks of the 2nd generation Marlin with the stacked headlight (from the Ambassador). Such a unique car. Sure wish the seller had bothered to pull it out and take some decent pictures of it. Is it solid? How’s the interior? So many questions when you post such lousy photography.

    Like 4
  13. RMac

    As small as the trunk looks in the photo note that the spare tires mounts in that space leaving virtually nothing. Not meant as a car to haul anything obviously
    I guess money considerations were the reason they did not have fold dow rear seat like the barracuda charger and mustang sport deck?

    Like 0
  14. JOHN B CUNNINGHAM

    Stuck in a storage unit. Only makes me wonder if this car even runs??

    Like 1
  15. Howard A. Howard A.Member

    Some may remember my Marlin story, if not, briefly, a few years back, our local car club puts on a show, and one of the cars was this ’66, I think. It belonged to 2 sisters whose mother bought it new in town. We had an AMC/Rambler dealer here for many years. I still say there are many Ramblers hidden in garages. Anyway, it drew quite a crowd, and I was the only one that asked if I could see the motor. The ladies looked at each other with puzzled looks, they didn’t know how to open the hood, I kid you not, and entirely possible. I was the big hero, “it’s right here” pointing to the center of the grill, and voila! I think it had a 290, but was fun to see. Naturally they enjoyed me telling them, I was from where this car was made. Fun stuff in a crazy world.

    Like 8
  16. Bill C

    Nice car for sure. I love mine (65 Rambler Marlin) and yes it garners a ton of attention at car shows. The trunk is much bigger than it appears! Easy to put two sets of golf clubs in there or in today’s world several hundred dollars worth of groceries. Don’t be fooled by the opening!

    Like 0
  17. Paul Alexander

    Fer Pete’s sake! If you really want to sell a car online, how hard can it be to push it outside, wash it off, and take a few pics of the whole car? (just asking for a friend)

    Like 2
  18. Walt from Vermont

    I own 15 AMC/Ramblers. I know what the value of these cars are, and to find a Marlin in fair to good condition under $10K, with a V8, is a rare find. Halo cars go for big bucks. I own a 1965 and 1966 Marlin. Anyone can throw out a figure on what a particular car is worth, but you need facts to back up your claims. Otherwise, you’re just blowing hot air.

    Like 1
  19. Nicholas johnson

    Why are so many worried about the trunk size. Are you gonna use it as a grocery getter

    Like 0
    • Howard A. Howard A.Member

      Actually, the trunk was the downfall of the car. If only it had a hatchback.

      Like 0
  20. V12MECH

    Blaser Auto, good place to contact for obsolete Rambler,AMC , parts.

    Like 0
  21. Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

    Auction update: this one sold for $9,200!

    Like 1

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