1966 AMC Marlin 1966 AMC Marlin 1966 AMC Marlin 1966 AMC Marlin
1966 AMC Marlin 1966 AMC Marlin 1966 AMC Marlin 1966 AMC Marlin
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The Marlin was a midsize sport fastback luxury sedan. Introduced in January of 1965, it featured a 4 bbl 327 cubic-inch V8 matted to a four-speed manual transmission and sat atop a 118-inch wheelbase. It was given a base price of $3100 and went on sale in March of 1965. During its introductory year, 10,327 examples were sold. There were many options available making the vehicle customizable to the users desires. The options ranged from engine and transmission choices, to air conditioning, AM/FM radio, power windows, and more.

It was a fastback, but the roofline was high to accommodate extra headroom for rear passengers. Fourteen inch steel wheels and Marlin wheel covers accented the two-color paint scheme and chrome trim. Excellent stopping power was provided by front 4-piston disc brakes and non-servo type rear drum brakes.

Not much changed for the 1966 version of the Marlin. A new grill was placed on the front, the Rambler logo was removed from the rear and front, and a few extra options became available. The big news was in the engine department, where a new 232 cubic-inch inline six and 327 cubic-inch V8 became available. The six-cylinder produced 155 horsepower while the eight-cylinder produced 250 horsepower. Performance could be increased further with the new optional four-speed manual gearbox. Unfortunately, the front drum brakes were now standard on the front but the disc brakes could still be had for an additional cost. AMC was unable to capture the sales that it had achieved in the prior year. Sales had dipped by more than half to 4,547.

In 1967, the Marlin was redesigned, giving it a wider stance and more interior room. It borrowed design cues from the Ambassador, including the vertical dual headlights, V-profile grille, and parking and turn signal lights. It was even placed on the Ambassador's chassis increasing its size in all directions. The interior received new bucket seats and an overall increase in hip and shoulder room. The interior was outfitted with power windows and cruise control as standard equipment, a rarity for cars at the time. Due to the increase in size, larger engines could be placed under the hood, including an all new 290 and 343 cubic-inch V8's. Even with all these changes, sales continued to fall. With a pitiful 2545, the Marlin was nearing the end. The end of 1967 was the end of production for the Marlin. AMC began focusing on their smaller fastback sedan named the Javelin. It was their attempt to add competition to the 'pony' market.
The AMC Marlin was a vehicle aimed at competing with a new breed of vehicles. Ford had their Mustang, Chrysler had the Barracuda, and General Motors had their pony cars such as the Camero and Firebird. AMC decided to enter this segment of the market with the Marlin, a vehicle that could best be classified as an intermediate sports sedan. Under the leadership and direction of Roy Abernethy, the AMC Marlin was introduced in early February of 1965 and offered at a base price of $3100. It was in dealer show rooms in March of 1965.

The vehicle was equipped with four-piston front disc brakes and non-servo type rear drums. A three-speed gearbox came standard. Power windows, AM/FM radio, tilt steering, and air conditioning were offered as optional equipment. A wide range of interior and exterior colors allowed even further customization.

The Marlin was an immediate success for the company, helping to create a profit of over 5 million dollars. In its first year, 10,327 Marlins were sold.

The 1966 Marlin did not sell as well as the prior year. Sales plummeted by nearly half; only 4547 examples were sold.

In 1966, the Rambler logo was removed from the hood and rear of the vehicle. Minor styling and mechanical changes occurred in 1966, but for the most part, the vehicle remained the same. The base price was lowered to around $2600. A four-speed manual gearbox was not offered. The ability to customize the vehicle continued with the addition of two new engines, a 232 cubic-inch six, and a 327 cubic-inch V8. The 232 cubic-inch, inline-six cylinder engine was capable of producing 155 horsepower, while the V8 produced 250 horsepower.

Drastic changes occurred for the Marlin in 1967. It began using the chassis used on the AMC Ambassador, which increased the size of the vehicle. The length grew by six and one-half inches, the wheelbase by six inches, and the width by four inches. This greatly increased the weight of the vehicle. That being the case, it also created more room for larger engines. A new 290 cubic-inch and 343 cubic-inch V8s were offered.

Sadly, even with all these changes, sales still were slow. In 1967, only 2545 units were sold.

Photos grouped by event

2005 Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance

2005 Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance in Ault Park

1966 AMC Marlin

Year1966
MakeAMC
ModelMarlin
Engine LocationFront
Drive TypeRear Wheel
Body / ChassisSteel unibody
Price$2,601.00
Weight3050 lbs | 1383.5 kg

Engine  
Engine ConfigurationI
Cylinders6
Aspiration/InductionNormal
Displacement232.00 CU IN. | 3802.5 cc. | 3.8 L.
Valves12 valves.
2 valves per cylinder.
ValvetrainOHV
Horsepower155.00 HP (114.1 KW)
HP to Weight Ratio19.7 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio)
HP / Liter40.8 BHP / Liter
Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight

Transmission Information
Gears3
TransmissionAutomatic


 
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StylingVehicle Styling Rating: 96%
PerformanceVehicle Performance Rating: 92%
InteriorVehicle Interior Rating: 96%
QualityVehicle Quality Rating: 96%
OverallVehicle Overall Rating: 96%
No. of Votes: 5
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Articles and Event Coverage
2005 Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance
2005 Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance in Ault Park

Additional Resources and Links
Concours d'Elegance at Ault Park Official Website
Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance Official Website

Topics
it looks stunning want me one for english roads

Replies: 1
Sunday, June 17, 2007
General Comments

Replies: 9
Monday, January 01, 2001

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