Rambler Marlin
The Rambler Marlin was the first mid-size car with a hatchback that was manufactured in the 1960s in the United States. It was manufactured by the American Motors Corporation ( AMC) from 1965 to 1967, had a very good quality and was marketed as a luxury car of the upper middle class.
The Marlin models 1965 and 1966 are fastback versions of the hardtop coupe Rambler Classic. The hatchback design was a prototype from 1964, the Rambler Tarpon, anticipated, which was based on the compact Rambler American. The Rambler Marlin was one year before the similar Dodge Charger (Models 1966/1967 ) are available. The 1967 model has been thoroughly revised and adapted to the large floor assembly. AMC built the Marlin now on the larger underbody of the AMC Matador and gave him a completely different look with a longer bonnet, more passenger space, powerful V8 engines, and many other improvements.
Origin of the Marlin
In the early 1960s, the U.S. automobile market was larger and wider cars. AMC had developed under George W. Romney, a successful marketing strategy. His successor, Roy Abernethy, saw the need to produce larger vehicles with more prestige to increase profits further. Abernethy had brought to third place in sales of U.S. automakers as Sales Executive Rambler and wanted to compete in other market segments against the " Big Three " (GM, Ford and Chrysler).
One suggestion was a sporty, youth-orientated customers car. Based on the compact Rambler American, a design study was created. The 4 -seat hatchback coupe was called the " Rambler Tarpon ". This was shown at auto shows, even before the Ford Mustang appeared. AMC V8 engines of the first generation did not fit into this vehicle and the second generation was still in development. Market research showed that customers would not be satisfied with such a vehicle would be equipped with a six cylinder engine. So management decided to offer the model on the larger floor pan. The new model featured many styling details of the prototype tarpon. The new Marlin is a large, comfortable hatchback car with luxurious features. He had a long list of standard equipment details and there were many options available to adapt the car to customer requirements. The Marlin is a representative of the luxury car segment of the middle class and did not compete directly me the pony cars like the Ford Mustang or the Plymouth Barracuda.
Annual changes of the model
Model 1965
Rambler Marlin (1965, front view)
The Marlin appeared in the middle of model year as an additional offering in the AMC series "Sensitive Spectaculars ". It was officially launched on 10 February 1965, was from 1 March at the dealership. At that time, car Firsts important events and connected with personal invitations to customers and appropriate advertising. The Marlin was described therein as a vehicle for those customers that " a sporty hatchback vehicle, connected with space and comfort wanted ."
The press coverage was exceptional, the Marlin appeared on the front pages of many car magazines on. Many car test appeared. Thus, for example, wrote the magazine Motor Trend, dss the Marlin " ... a very balanced car ( is ) that trumps many sports cars on the market. "
The new model offered many amenities available, including standard 4-piston front disc brakes with brake booster, drum brakes at the rear without power brakes, fold-down single seats, luxurious trims and an interior that directly from AMC's two -door flagship, was derived from the Ambassador. The smallest engine was the 3.8 liter inline six- cylinder with 145 hp SAE, but it was ordered that only about 2,000 pieces. Most buyers want a performance that corresponded to the sporty appearance of the vehicle and ordered the majority of the 5.4 liter V8 with four -barrel carburetor and 270 hp SAE. With the automatic transmission stick shift with this engine worked great. The new transmission with overdrive and manual transmission with 2 levers, however, was ordered rare. Other options available were power steering, heavy-duty chassis and the " Twin -Grip " limited slip differential. Whoever placed on luxury value, ordered air conditioning, an adjustable steering wheel, power windows, an AM / FM radio (mono ), a "Duo - Costic " rear speakers or even a " Vibra - Tone " system for quasi- stereo sound ( stereo transmission on the radio there was not ).
The most important price was set at $ 3,100.00 U.S.. This was relatively cheap when you consider that a 2-door hardtop coupe of the Rambler Classic 770 with benches (6 -person version) without the special equipment and the luxurious interior of the Marlin already U.S. $ 3063.00 cost.
Model 1966
The Rambler Marlin became the AMC Marlin, as the traditional Rambler name in 1966 abandoned. This was part of a new strategy Abernethys "Corporate Identity" (CI ) for AMC, in which he freed the larger vehicles from the reputation of the small Rambler cars. Otherwise there was little innovations: The extruded aluminum grille was changed, all six-cylinder got an additional stabilizer at the front axle and, on request, a black vinyl roof, which continued over the opening of the tailgate.
The market margin of the Marlin was increased by lowered his base price of 2601.00 U.S. $, while offering more optional equipment. Many details were previously included as standard to optional equipment available at extra cost. for example, a manual four- speed transmission and a monierter on the dashboard speedometer were now available. This strategy was followed by AMC of its competitors. For example, the Dodge Charger was presented with a long list of optional extras, but its standard equipment has also been reduced in order to make its price more attractive can.
1966 you needed fewer cars of this type As with the 1970 AMX that followed the models of 1968 and 1969, the production figures of the Marlin dropped to under 5000 cars.
1967 model year
AMC Marlin (1967 )
1967 Marlin was even greater. He has now been built on the all-new large floor group of AMC with 2997 mm wheelbase. That should be the Marlin larger was already clear as 1968, based on the compact soil group Javelin came out. The larger Marlin made for a larger model differentiation in the AMC deal. The larger bottom group the Marlin gave a different view from the front, the harmonized better with the long hatchback. The new styling made for a more rounded appearance of the Marlin, which fit better to the curved roof line. Slightly upward bent rear fender corresponded with the shiny trim that started at the door and up the back leading to the rear of the vehicle. At the front of the vehicle were stacked headlights of the Ambassador and a set-back radiator grille with horizontal bars, the bulging in the middle forward mounted. The grille of the Marlin is the black version of the " Rally Light " type ( for park and flashing lights ), which was used in the DPL models at the Ambassador. A revised logo with a small, chrome lettering " Marlin " on clear plastic in a chrome ring was sitting on the front of the long hood. At the rear of the vehicle was found the same decklid as last year, but without her mounted in the middle of great logo. Unfortunately, a larger rear window not gave the driver greater outlook to the rear. The tail lights were new, but were similar to those of the first generation. The rear bumper was used only at the Marlin, but similar to those that were used in the suits of the Ambassador and Rebel series. Instead of a reduction in the area of the rear door of the bumper of the Marlin was smooth throughout.
A whole series of new V8 engines were the new Marlin. The six-cylinder, there was yet, but erwurde rarely ordered - only 355 units were built. The standard- a V8 4.75 liter engine and twin carburettors, a surcharge could be two 5.6 liter - V8 order: a swallowed with dual carburetors, normal gasoline or a high-density (10.2: 1) with four -barrel carburetor for premium gasoline, the dual exhaust pipes owned and developed 280 SAE hp and a torque of 494 Nm at 3,000 rpm.
For the Marlin the second generation there were separate prospectuses; He was described in great Verkaufsbrochure the Ambassador with. He also received the basic equipment and the Tools of the Ambassador. The interior corresponded to the Ambassador of the 900 -, or DPL, hardtop model ( with the exception of the "Custom" package with two matching colored cushions). Many Marlin ordered with foldable bucket seats that are not only a Front center armrest had (with an extra seat cushion for a third passenger or a floor console with gear lever ), but also a fold-away rear armrest. The interior was new and had a padded dashboard with gauges, which were grouped in front of the driver, while the rest of the instrument panel swung far away from the passengers to the front. The steering wheel was smaller than previous models and sat on a collapsible steering column.
Legacy
The Marlin built up a good image for AMC. Although he did not reach high production numbers, he took care of advertising effects and enthusiasm. This brought prospective buyers to AMC dealers who then had the opportunity to other models in the range to sell them. In the first year 10,327 Marlin helped that AMC posted a profit of 5.2 million U.S. $ in fiscal 1965, despite a 3 -Week dispute of the autoworkers. The direct competitor to the Marlin was introduced in 1966 Dodge Charger, the hatchback design, however, be retained only for another year. 1968 Charger was released as a larger, completely different styled car. Although the Marlin was founded in 1967 also set, he paved but the way for his successful successor -. Javelin 1968 Therefore, the introduction of the Marlin 1965 as a crucial marketing success of AMC can be viewed as the V8 was not yet fit into the compact soil group. The Javelin was aimed at the small, sporty, youthful market segment.
Some of the key design components of the Marlin returned back in 2004 Chrysler Crossfire. The hatchback of the new Coupé, his broad-shouldered rear fenders and his rear view led many automotive journalists to write about the similarity between the AMC Marlin and the Chrysler Crossfire. Rob Rothwell wrote: " ... when I saw the rear lines of the Chrysler Crossfire for the first time, I felt transported back to the year 1965 and my favorite car of the year, the Rambler Marlin, remembers. "
The typical styled Marlin has found a niche for old car enthusiasts and collectors of historic vehicles. Although it was produced in relatively small numbers, but the Marlin is derived from the solid models of AMC and has many parts in common with them.