BF Auction: 1966 AMC Marlin
- Seller: Carl B
- Location: Redondo Beach, California
- Mileage: 50,588 Shown
- Chassis #: A6KA97T100836
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 287 Cubic Inch V-8
- Transmission: Flash-O-Matic 3-Speed Automatic
UPDATE – The seller has lowered their reserve and added more photos and videos.
Now, here is something we don’t see that often these days. AMC built many interesting cars, including some muscle cars that were true underdogs. The Marlin isn’t quite a muscle car, but it’s packing V8 power and is a great mix of comfort and performance. This example is a low-mileage survivor in good condition. The seller would like to keep it, but they need space in the garage, and it’s just too nice not to be stored indoors. So, they’ve made the tough decision to let it go. It’s listed here as a Barn Finds Auction and is located in Redondo Beach, California.
The Marlin was a Halo car for AMC Rambler and was marketed as a personal luxury car in the same vein as the Ford Thunderbird. Given its fastback design, it was really positioned to compete with the Barracuda and the Mustang. It offered more room than either of those cars, plus more standard features. Having things like reclining bucket seats might not seem like a big deal now, but back in 1965, it wasn’t a standard option in most vehicles.
Since the focus of the Marlin was comfort, the interior was a central focal point for the car. The dash features turned aluminum trim, a pair of round gauges, an integrated AM radio, and a clock. The seats are upholstered in black vinyl, with bucket seats up front and a rear bench with a middle armrest to ensure maximum comfort regardless of your seat. The fastback roofline ensures rear passengers have adequate headroom. The seller notes that the interior needs attention if you want it to look its best, as the seats have tears and there’s sun fade from spending much of its life in Arizona. They have a brand-new carpet set for the car, but it must be installed. And the rear tray is faded and could use being redyed. Overall, the interior looks like it could be used as is, but a little work could make it very nice.
AMC offered a few different engine options in the Marlin. This one received the 287 cui V8, rated at 198 horsepower, and paired to the Flash-O-Matic 3-speed transmission. While not blistering, this combination was reported to offer solid performance while still being quiet and easy to drive. The engine is said to start and run great, having been well cared for since it was new, and has been serviced recently. There are currently 50k miles showing on the odometer, which is believed to be correct. The seller recently had the suspension serviced, with new bushings up front and new shocks installed at all four corners. The seller also has new underhood insulation for it, which is included but needs to be installed.
There’s no doubt that this Marlin will stand out anywhere you go in it. There were only 4,547 built in 1966, and there can’t be many left in this nice original condition. Between the rarity and bright Turquoise Aqua paint, this AMC will surely draw attention on the street and at car shows! So if you are ready to hit the road in this unique survivor, be sure to cast your high bid below. And leave any questions you might have for the seller in the comments below.
Bid On This Auction
Steve A bid $7,750.00 2024-07-19 21:05:56
Donie bid $7,500.00 2024-07-19 18:14:03- Steve A bid $7,400.00 2024-07-19 16:53:25
Nic bid $6,900.00 2024-07-19 05:49:00
Jim O'Brien bid $6,500.00 2024-07-15 12:55:26- Donie bid $6,000.00 2024-07-14 11:25:17
- Nic bid $5,100.00 2024-07-14 09:17:49
Todd J. bid $2,000.00 2024-07-13 12:01:47
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Comments
Well, Webster defines underdog as “a loser or predicted loser”, or “a victim of injustice”. I hope the author means the latter because we never thought of any of “our” cars as a loser. Fact is, Rambler/AMC led the way several times and never really got the credit, the Marlin was one such car. Wasn’t always so, as a kid, there was another kid down the block whose father worked at AMC around this time. We laughed at the Marlin, but we were just dumb kids, the Marlin was really a neat car. Fastbacks, and later hatchbacks were all the rage. It’s what hurt sales here, if only it had a hatchback. Again, the cost. Many couldn’t justify spending an extra $700 on a car with wacky styling. This car cost almost $3grand without options. The automatic was $187 alone. It’s not what AMC buyers were made of, at the time, and most went with the Classic 770 that listed for about $2300.
Fast forward to today. Some may remember the ’67 I mentioned at a local car show, that got a lot of attention. Not for what great cars they were, just such unusual styling, an oasis in the jellybean blobs of today. This is an absolute sweetheart, being a southern car, the vacuum wipers may have been adequate, but about the only thing this car needs. Someone will be very happy with this car, I almost guarantee it.
Grandpap likes blue!
Nice! I have a ’65 Marlin in the garage, not in nearly as good shape. The ’66 didn’t come with the standard front disc brakes of the previous year. Sixty years later assuming this has the bog-standard drums (master cylinder looks like it) that’s probably a good thing in terms of being able to get parts.
It looks like a remote oil filter has been installed? (Silver canister in the lower right-hand corner of the engine photo.) That’s definitely not a stock item.
Super cool, love Marlins, but when I buy one, it has to be a twin-stick. Only something like 6% of Marlins had that option, but I think it makes the car extra special.
Like the twin stick, eh? Well, you missed your calling, many of the trucks I drove had a “set of clubs”. You do know, they aren’t “twin stick” in the sense like 2 transmissions, it’s just a stick to actuate an electric switch to engage the O/D. Trucks with 2 sticks had 2 transmissions, a main ( 5speed) and a auxiliary (3 or 4 speed) and were usually accompanied by a small motor, and actually needed 20 gears to make any progress, although some could be skipped. While there may have only been 6% made, I can assure you, less than 1% of the women I knew would even know what that is. :)
Correct, one “stick” was the shifter and one was the overdrive. I love the way it looks. I’ve seen one Marlin with the twin stick, and this upcoming weekend is the AMC Rendezvous in my area, hoping to see another. Who knows, maybe it will follow me home.
I bought my 1965 Rambler Marlin after learning of it via Barnfinds. A BC car that I found in Washington. 52000 original miles, I’m 4th owner and now have it back in BC. It garners more attention at car shows than virtually anything else. I’m fortunate in that mine needed no attention at all. Factory undercoated coupled with being kept in a garage for its near 60 years equals no rust at all. Interior would rate at 8-9 – carpet at least that. Very well maintained by the previous owners.
One of the “not sitting on each corner” cars I (don’t tell to my wife) realy need for my collection. Nice color combo !
Look at the simplicity of the engine compared to an engine in a modern car.
Well-built and stylish. Good size. Ahead of many competing manufacturers with its dual master cylinder.
I dig the license plate.
In around 1974 after the first oil / fuel “crisis” I went to school to learn truck driving in the SF Bay area, not a great time to start. Wasn’t the cost of diesel all of the sudden over 50c per gallon? I graduated then and was okay with a 10 speed or 13 speed, but my first and only job was driving with the owner of a Freightliner that had a 15 speed with the two sticks, to Indiana and back. He was about 5′ 6″ and I was over 6′, didn’t have the leg room or the coordination. He drove most of the way, therefore, gave me $100 and said goodbye.
In a sea of SUV’s and basically boring cars being offered today, this is by far way more interesting, and IMHO, very beautiful.
Such a unique car. I have always loved AMC’s ever since owning a 74 Javelin they really knew how to be different and ahead of their time.
I’d absolutely LOVE to have this Marlin (BRANDO). Alas, I have no room either. Being a purist when it comes to rare finds like this, I’d keep it as original as day one. GLWS.
I’ve had a ’66 Marlin for nearly 50 years – 327 V8, 4-on-the floor, a multi-owner car and the only one I ever saw that was a solid color (we remedied that one night trimming the original aqua with white). You have to ask yourself, why did AMC skimp on the front end, sticking that ugly Classic sheet metal on that special body? I’m sure that turned off many would be purchasers – why pay for something special to have a dowdy front end? It’s been a fun car to drive (although the 4-speed shifter controls are really Mickey Mouse). Not a race car but a leisurely boulevard cruiser.
Almost bought one from the local used car lot, in high-school, red, white, with the black down the rear center, red interior, 327, auto, seems like $800, hard to remember, it’s been over 50 years ago now. But I couldn’t quite come up with the cash. Nice looking cars, although a bit awkward in styling. Bigger than a Mustang or Barracuda, definitely not a competitor to Thunderbird, more along the lines of a first gen Charger. This one’s a beauty
In 1965, AMC’s slogan was, “the only race Rambler cares about is the human race”. Then they released the Marlin. A couple years after , the Javelin, AMX and SC Rambler. I guess they figured out the market, but a bit too late.
As the Seller of this Car I have lowered the reserve significantly. I am not happy about separating from this car which is a Gem but needs a few more things to make it perfect and it will be a Mecum/Barrett Jackson car or your unique car to cruise around in and win at Car Shows because it is rare, unique and not many have seen these.
We are in the final hours of this auction. I live in Southern California in a beach community and I purchased a car for her and it is a foreign make and convertible. It cannot be street parked and neither can the Marlin. If you know what I know, happy better half – life is great, I have to allow her car to be in the parking spot and reluctantly I have to part with the Marlin when 15% of the car remains to be finished such as the interior and some exterior details.
All I ask is that it goes to a good home that will make it damn near perfect because the rarity of this car will only appreciate in value.
Please reach out if you need any more information or pics and Good Luck on the final hours of the Auction. You cannot go wrong with this car AZ and CA car with two previous owners from new.
Thank you for your time and attention.
It’s a real treat to see that the highest bidding on any vehicle today is on an AMC.
AMCs truly are having their day in the sun.
Thank you for the update (pics & video).
Now we can see in detail “a lot of” presto on the left back side. I’m wondering, did the car had an exident ? Also the first time we can see the damaged taped front seat.
The reserve is off!
Congratulations to Steve A !
Well done, You got yourself a sweet ride.
Please reach out to me and we can begin making arrangements.
Thank you
Carl (Seller)
Why miss it’s best feature by leaving the rear windows rolled up? Let people see the bloody openness, that unobstructed sweep and airiness of a hardtop as opposed to a ‘stodgy’ sedan with a B pillar?
A missed photo opportunity and selling point, but it sold anyway.