The Price Is Right! 1965 Rambler Marlin

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The Rambler Marlin was largely a fastback version of the Classic. In fact, the car drew mostly from the Classic and Ambassador parts bins. AMC would later repeat this process by turning the Javelin into an AMX and a Hornet into a Gremlin, among others. The arrival of the car would come between two other hybrid fastbacks in the market, the 1964 Plymouth Barracuda and the 1966 Dodge Charger. If we interpret the seller’s ad correctly, this car began life as a prize on the TV game show, The Price is Right, and stayed with that owner until not too long ago. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, this Marlin is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $2,950 as it will need a complete restoration.

Positioned as a personal luxury car, the Rambler Marlin would only see three years of production. Its fastback rood design was first seen on the 1964 Tarpon show car based on the Rambler American. For the car’s first two years, it borrowed from the 2-door hardtop Classic, then shifted to the Ambassador chassis for its final year (so it was a bigger car for 1967). 17,419 Marlins were built in total, with 10,327 coming from 1965 alone. More than half the Marlins built that year came with AMC’s 327 V8, with 1,702 having a 2-barrel carb and 4,311 with a 4-barrel. The seller’s car has a 327, but we don’t know which set up is present.

Apparently, some lucky person won this car brand new in 1965 on The Price Is Right, hosted by Bill Cullen (Bob Barker didn’t take over until 1972). A restoration may have already begun as the engine is out of the car and at the machine shop. We’re told the automatic transmission and rear end are in good condition. But the intended owner of the car once it would be complete has taken ill, so there is no longer any interest in the project. The Marlin has 79,000 miles on it and all of it will need to be gathered up for a move to another home.

The color is described as blue, but it looks turquoise to me and that was an attractive color on the Marlin new, especially when it was combined with white as a two-tone paint job. The lighting isn’t good in the garage or barn where the car is now, so it’s hard to tell if rust has been an issue. But what we do see of the car looks pretty straight. The hood is still there, just not pictured. The white interior is going to need most everything done, from seat covers and carpeting to headliner and door panels.

According to Hagerty, these Marlins top out in the 20s in terms of resale value. So, the seller’s asking price leaves some room to complete the restoration, but probably not enough. For fans of American Motors cars or Marlins in particular, this could be a good find. Due to their low production and likely lower survival rate, you won’t see another one of these at Cars & Coffee anytime soon. I can here Johnny Olsen calling out “Come on down!”

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. That AMC Guy

    Wowsers, if the body and chassis are solid it would be perfect to swap the good interior, drivetrain, etc. from my badly-rusted ’65 Marlin into that. (Mine looks OK on top from a bit of a distance but is a rotted and patched disaster area underneath.) Unfortunately I’m just not in a position to tackle anything like that.

    Like 3
  2. Steve Clinton

    $2,950? The price is NOT right.

    Like 3
  3. Terry

    Strange, AMC’s slogan in ’65 was, “the only race Rambler cares about is the human race”. Not exactly “selling words” when the public wanted performance cars. Yet they hedged their bets with the Marlin. They fast-backed the mid size Classic and put a 4-barrel V8 in it.So AMC was beginning to see the performance “light”, as they would make the Javelin, AMX and big-block (SC) versions of their little Rambler and Rebel, all in 1968..

    Like 1
  4. Howard A. Howard AMember

    IDK , I looked up “10 super rare cars won on The Price is Right”, and there was no mention of a Marlin. The Marlin, to us in Milwaukee, was a joke, who is going to want this, we thought, and we were right. Another in the long line of Rambler/AMC “swing and a miss” offerings. I believe it was the most expensive car Rambler sold at about $3,100 bucks, $100 more than the 6 passenger wagon. Biggest shortcoming was the small trunk, if only it was a hatchback. Again, for any appeal, I’d have to think, someone today just wants a nice one, if any, and won’t spend the time to restore this one.

    Like 0
    • Mountainwoodie

      HoA- Something bout the Marlin and the first gen Barracudas appeals to me……but I agree with you that buying one already done makes more sense. Maybe I’m just attracted to oddballs :)

      Like 2
  5. mark r westphal

    My family had a few AMC back when including my uncles brand new 65 Ambassador, later on I had a Hornet I wish I hadn’t sold.. Nowdays theres a 65 gto in my collection this prize would go really nicely with

    Like 0
  6. amcguy

    Well I’m that guy that cant let one get away. I bought the Marlin and going to bring it back to life…..

    Like 0
    • On and On On and OnMember

      I think you got a great cool car………..Good luck and keep me posted………………..where are you located?

      Like 0
  7. Robert L Mc daniel

    i woul be interwsted in the parts…. the seller get his money back by parting it out…… the front driver fender is what i want

    Like 0

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