1967 was the first year for the redesigned body, and the last year of production for the AMC Marlin. The 1967 redesign was arguably the best looking year of the model range. With similar, yet different looks, you can look over this Marlin and some styling cues that bring to mind such automobiles as the Ford Fairlane, and the Dodge Charger. With an interesting mash up of styling, Marlins are not the most common car to see out in everyday life. The 1967 models are scarce, with a little more than 2,500 being sold. This particular Marlin is described as original and rust free, appearing to be a solid opportunity for $8,995. Find it here on craigslist out of Birmingham, Alabama. I would like to thank Pat L for sharing this uncommon Fish. Thanks Pat L!
Equipped with a high compression 4 barrel 343 V8, an automatic transmission, air conditioning, power steering, and power brakes, this Marlin is an easy driving comfortable classic. The engine bay is dirty and even a little grimy, but looks as if it would clean up nicely. The inner fenders are shiny and white through the dirt, and the engine bay could use some fine detail work, and a little paint on some of the accessories. Although equipped with air conditioning, it is unclear if it is operational. The engine and transmission are in good health, so this one is ready to drive.
Within this long sleek fastback resides a very nice original interior. The only major gripe is the dirt and rubbish on the driver floor. Otherwise this Marlin is a clean and excellent example, from the interior standpoint. The dash pad looks a little dry and wavy, but it may just be dry needing to be cleaned and protected from UV. Seating in this AMC is clean, as the driver seat only has minor evidence of traffic.
Looking over the exterior reveals a matte finish paint with some glossy areas. Much of the exterior trim is removed in the photos as if the car has been sprayed, or was going to be sprayed. Overall the body looks straight and sleek as it should, although some of the finer details like the taillights need some work. The chrome work that is present on this Marlin looks great, and the 1967 specific front end is in very good shape. It is difficult to make out from the photos, but perhaps all this marlin really needs is a good buff job, and exterior trim. Rust seems to have escaped the photos, so it is easy to believe the owner’s claim of this car being rust free. Certainly an interesting and uncommon American Muscle car, this Marlin would certainly be a cool sight at any classic car event. Would you cast your “rod and reel” in the direction of this AMC Marlin?
Beat with an ugly stick.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Concentrate on the cars and have fun with the rest of us.
If I were to look for a Marlin (it might happen), I’d be looking for a ’67. The front end restyle greatly improved its looks.
Not as beautiful as say, a second generation Charger, but I certainly wouldn’t kick it out of my driveway.
I like ’em! -the 67’s anyway.
The front end looks great. Unfortunately the back end more than makes up for it!
It wasn’t just a front-end restyle, the 1967 Marlin was based on the 1967 Ambassador, which was AMC’s full-sized offering. The 1967 Marlin was actually a significantly larger car than the 1965 & 1966 models, which were based on the standard Rambler Classic model. The 1967 model was a full 6-1/2″ LONGER than the previous cars, had more rear seat legroom, and was wider than before. This came at a price, though, as the 1967 Marlin was 350 pounds heavier than the previous cars.
I believe that AMC realized that the Marlin really couldn’t be marketed similar to the Charger that it looked a lot like; instead, they chose to attempt a halo car with it similar to the Monte Carlo, Thunderbird, Riviera, and Toronado (or the later Chrysler Cordoba with its “soft, Corinthian leather”).
Unfortunately, nobody bought them. 1967 was the last year for the Marlin as AMC had always been a struggling “also ran” in the American auto industry.
The Monte Carlo debuted in 1970…
Your point? I wasn’t suggesting that the Marlin was intended to be like a Monte Carlo as (obviously) the MC hadn’t come out yet. I merely was listing off some of the other “Halo” cars (or “personal luxury coupés) built by other manufacturers.
It was an interesting time in automotive history that would produce large 2-doors with minimal interior space; one I didn’t mention was the Lincoln Mk IV. . . Can you imagine today a car like that? Longer and larger than many of the full sized cars, with the largest of the available engines manufactured (as I recall, most of the Mk IV’s came with the Ford 460 in them, the Toronado had either a 425 or 455, the Riviera had the 401 or 425; the list goes on!), yet so little interior space that taking (4) people anywhere was an exercise in futility? The nearest modern equivalent I can think of its the Lexus SC400, and even that isn’t been with us for a few years.
Very cool looking!
343 has enough punch to really move this down the road, even with the slushbox. I think the price is steep, but the fish is fresh!
How about a rebel convertible with a reasonably solid (albeit dented on the drivers side door ) body needing restoration for 1500? The rebel, done right, looks better IMO than the Marlin. Saw this and wanted to send it to the editors of this site to use, but here is going to have to do as they have no way to send it to them.-
https://macon.craigslist.org/cto/5953286650.html
must be an older photo, no way georgia has trees leafed out already.
better not. here in minnesota i’m looking at another 3 months before we even see the first buds swell let alone open.
Yeah, it was a sweltering -11° on the car thermometer on my way to work this morning.
Agreed, I’d go for that Rebel before the Marlin. It needs more work but the end result would be worth it.
i prefer the first and second years better but 67’s are bitch’n cars also
I think it’s beautiful. We had a 65 Marlin that had the 327…. no not THAT 327, and a Flash o matic on the floor. Dad traded it in on a 68 Javelin with a 343. Both wer beauties in my opinion
There’s a pro street version, done in the 1980’s, on Craigslist in Minneapolis every so often (obviously a hard sell) that looks sweet.
Nice car, looks like a repaint at some time. The rear trim that goes from the bumper up on each side of the rear window is missing. Wonder how hard it would be to find nice replacement trim.
OMG… He didn’t cover his license plate! Quick! Do whatever it is that criminals do with random licence plate numbers!
Nice car. Would make a good “Hey, I’ve never seen one of those” cars at a show.
While not a huge AMC fan myself, I have huge respect for their unique styling. Reminds me of the way earlier Studes really stand out. I can understand why the marque is so endearing to so many.
I worked on one of these in high school auto shop,
(1966 model?),& was surprised to find it had disc brakes on
the front.AMC had some advanced ideas,& styling.
I bought a beautiful 1966 Marlin in high school, and kept it almost 15 years. It was a real love-it-or-hate-it car, with me being in the love-it camp and almost all my friends in the hate-it. One called it “The Mackerel.” Pooh on them; what do they know?
I prefer the slightly more outrageous styling of the 1965 and 1966 cars, but I like the 1967 a lot also, and that was the rarest year by far. This one has the right engine option and looks pretty solid. Great car.
My oldest brother had a 1965 in the early 80’s and my siblings and I referred to it as “The Tuna Boat”.
What did we know? A bunch of ignorant haters, we were.
I’ve never seen one without a vinyl top. I owned a gold 1967 Marlin, with a black interior, and a friend had a yellow 1967 with a black interior. My car had plenty of power, but the plastics inside were very brittle and cheap looking. I loved the exterior looks though.
The fastest fastback!
I’m greatly puzzled by the comments praising the styling. In my view, they ruined the Marlin in 1967, it’s now the king of ugly.
My Grandparents had the 67 Ambassador which looks the same till you get to that fastback rear, was this some attempt at NASCAR racing or something ;)
I think AMC… actually Rambler, at the time, was trying to compete, or copy, the Barracuda. The Barra… ok the CUDA, was a just Valiant converted to a fastback. I also think the Marlin, a fish, was chasing the Barracuda, also a fish.
I kinda thought it was pretty obvious, but didn’t notice the connection written anywhere above.
In my opinion, the 1967 Marlin is dramatically better looking than the Rambler based 65 &66.
The step up to the larger body and longer wheelbase gave the car better proportion. That strange fastback roof finally fit the car…it looked really strange on the Rambler.
I agree and disagree with you. Originally, the Marlin body style was intended for the Rambler American and was to be called “Tarpon”. I think that the styling fit the smaller body much better, but I also am in the camp that thought that the Chevrolet Nomad body looked much better on the Corvette.
The original Tarpon concept. I thought that the proportions worked better on the smaller car.
Rear view. They really didn’t change much when they grafted the design onto the larger Classic body.
Just in case anyone forgot what the 65 & 66 Marlin looked like…a revealing profile shot! The 67 is clearly a different car.
Back in about 1977 my dad bought a 67 Marlin to restore as he loved AMC,S it was a black car with a white roof and my brother and I always called it[the skunk]. My dad passed away in 2013 I miss him and the skunk!!!!
I think that that statement sums up the car affection for 90% of us completely. There are hundreds of different cars out there that all have nice looks and to the right person would be a labor of love to acquire/restore. The right person would have an emotional attachment to whichever vehicle it was.
For me, it would be a ’64 Chevy II; a very basic car but it was my first one, left to me by my aunt. Not many would think “oh man I gotta get me one of them!” but to me, it means a lot. My problem is finding one that is like mine was. Two door, six banger, extremely basic.
Oh man this thing in reality was a horror show. I used to have to plan my filling it with oil. I’d have to go for three blocks and create the biggest smoke screen behind me you will ever see. The engine could not have been more worn out and still run I suppose. The suspension on those is legendary for its strict purpose of keeping the car body off the ground and approximating a direction; and scarce little else. Most of the wiring was shot in the back. I had one brake light that worked, and nothing else. But it was MINE. I would love to find one now and fix all of those issues with a rebuild of the little six-banger, an aftermarket wiring harness, restore the interior to stock, find the original AM radio that would’ve been in the thing,an aftermarket suspension upgrade (strictly for safety’s sake), and vintage air. Then drive my very deep seated memories around town on the weekends.
I suppose some people want to drive their dream cars that they wanted when they were younger and unable to afford them, now that they can afford them. (IE the White Countach(sp), The [fill in the blank from 67-71 pony car era]), the AC Cobras, etc. etc. Me, I want to drive a memory, and validate the improvements in my life through schooling, degree, certifications etc. and prove that I can now afford to fix one.
Most of the ones I find are either drag cars, or trailer queen convertibles. But the quest to own my memory persists.
Well said, John.
With this swoopy styling it really should have had a console shift as standard kit to finish the look.