1965 Rambler Marlin

The Marlin was promoted as 'The swinging new man-size sports fastback by Rambler.' Introduced as the Rambler Marlin in 1965 - and soon becoming the AMC Marlin - it was a two-door fastback that was a rather significant departure from the compact, economical cars that left the Rambler factory. It was a roomy, 6-passenger vehicle that had a sporty persona that appealed to the youth market. It was built on AMC's intermediate-sized Rambler classic platform and wore a design by American designer Dick Teague.

The 1960s gave birth to the (and/or increased popularity of the) pony, muscle, and personal luxury segments. An increasing influence of younger buyers seeking a sporty image inspired manufacturers to shoe-horn large engines into compact platforms. The Marlin was Rambler/AMC's answer, providing a unique flavor that was a part sport, part luxury, and part utilitarian with its roomy, six-passenger seating.

The company had built a four-seat fastback design study in 1963 called the Rambler Tarpon as a potential entry into the growing compact-sized market. It was a concept car that was shown at various auto shows as the company gauged interest. What they learned was that the current 'GEN-1' V8 engine would not fit into the engine bay, and the market would not be satisfied with a six-cylinder version alone. To accommodate the performance community, the decision was made to build the new fastback model on an intermediate-sized platform.

Many of the design features of the Tarpon show car were incorporated into the Marlin, including the windshield, fastback line, and an iconic roofline. Roy Abernethy, who succeeded George W. Romney as the company's CEO, insisted the roof be raised over the rear passenger area to accommodate larger individuals (Abernethy, himself, was six-foot-four) and to make the back seat more useable.

The Marlin was built to follow the muscle car formula and as a personal luxury vehicle. It was equipped with a plethora of standard amenities and could be outfitted with numerous options. The standard engine was a 232 cubic-inch inline-6 with a two-barrel carburetor, 155 horsepower, and backed by a three-speed manual transmission. Overdrive, 'Twin-Stick' on the console, and a three-speed automatic were optional. A four-speed manual was added to the options list in 1966. Engine options included the 287 cubic-inch V8 with a two-barrel carburetor and 189 horsepower, a 327 CID 2-barrel V8 with 250 horsepower, and the range-topping, four-barrel version with 270 horsepower. All of these V8 engines had overhead valves, a cast-iron block, hydraulic valve lifters, and five main bearings. Stopping power was by front four-piston Bendix disc brakes, making the Marlin one of the first American automobiles with disc brakes as standard. In the back were drums without servo assistance. Optional performance features included power steering, heavy-duty suspension, and 'Twin-Grip' limited-slip differential.

Zero-to-sixty took around 9.7 seconds with the 327 4-barrel V8 installed, and the quarter-mile in 17.43 seconds at 79 mph.

The Marlin rested on a 112-inch wheelbase, had a length of 1965 inches, a width of 74.5 inches, and a height of 53 inches. It was officially announced on February 10th of 1965 and unveiled in Rambler dealer showrooms on March 19th. Each dealership received one or two examples to increase showroom traffic, and the company even sent bulletins to dealerships telling 'How to use Marlin to sell the Rambler Classic.'

Standard amenities included reclining front seats, center armrests in the front and rear when bucket seats were installed, and interiors sourced from AMC's two-door Ambassador model. The door panels were finished with carpeting and stainless steel trim, and the dashboard was trimmed with engine-turned aluminum. The reclining bucket seats could be ordered with headrests, and retractable front seatbelts were optional.

Optional amenities included 'Solex' tinted glass which proved popular as approximately 70 percent of Marlins were fitted with this feature and a choice of AM radio or an AM/FM monaural unit with 'Duo Costic' rear speaker and 'Vibra Tone' system to simulate stereophonic sound. Air conditioning, power windows, and an adjustable steering wheel were also part of the options list.

The two-door Hardtop Fastback Marlin had a factory base price of $2,640 with a standard six-cylinder engine or $2,725 with the 287 V8. A total of 10,327 examples were built in 1965 with approximately 2,000 examples powered by the six and circa-8,300 with a V-8.

Compared to the Mustang which had seating for four occupants, the Marlin could accommodate six passengers. Its design was similar to the Rambler Classic but with the fastback roofline, a Marlin hood ornament, unique taillights, and a similar grille but devoid of vertical division bars.

Production continued through 1967, with 4,547 examples built in 1966 and 2,545 in 1967. By 1967, the Marlin had become lower, longer, and wider plus had added two inches to its wheelbase. It continued to wear its unique fastback roof styling but with smoother bodysides, Rally lights in the grille, and a new rectangular gas filler door. It had become larger as AMC was preparing to introduce the compact-platform-based Javelin in 1968.

Throughout its brief production lifespan, production remained exclusive, and despite its low sales, it succeeded in generating publicity and excitement for the company, attracting potential customers to AMC dealerships.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2021