Here's a shot of all things an American Motors Marlin from back in the mid 60's, I never recall seeing this one. The car was from So-Cal and was called the Bill Kraft Marlin and the drivers were Preston Honea and Lefty Mudersbach.
The Marlin was a great design. Not sure who beat who to the punch. Plymouth (Barracuda) or AMC My buddy's Dad in Portland had an awesome example in his garage up until, about 10 years ago. Anymore pics on this particular car? It's bitchin'.
Was a Light Blue one at the Roadster show a couple years ago... Only time i ever saw it, Was cruising around the Swap area.
Rodders Round Table moderator and HAMB member enjenjo has had a Pro Street/Stock Marlin he built for as long as I can remember and it's HOT PINK! And I gotta add, I cant imagine it being any other color!
Yup, I saw that at Lions back in about '65 or early '66. It was at the East vs. West A/FX meet. I remember the trans was built by Art Carr in Arcadia. I worked at the Shell gas station two buildings north of Carrs shop. I always liked the looks of the Marlin, especially that one. Nasty. Lefty died at Irwindale after that meet at Lions.
There is a stock one just south of Fort Worth in junk yard for sale its complete, think might even run If memory serves, asking like 800 bucks for it
Way cool car, what engine did it use?..I've always had a thing for Fastbacks,2+2s,Torpedos,Club Coupes,Sedanets, Wayfarers, Aerocoupes, whatever they were called..last Marlin I looked at, six cyl. for 1500.00, when you looked down at the footwells, kick panel corners, all you saw was asphalt....
From what I have found out they started with a 327 Rambler motor and quickly changed over to a Hemi, here is one side shot.
Well, in my feeble mind, I knew they arrived on the scene about the same time. The UnderDog in me was rooting for the AMC.
Fiberglass Trends copied the Marlin roof and made a few conversion pieces for ChevyIIs. The A/FX,early funny cars are cool as fastbacks and roadsters. Have fun,Smokey
Ahhh-Haaa! I thought that looked like a very similar top to those on the fastback Chevy IIs..... That's cool to know.
The AMC Tarpon was based on the '64 American. Still would have been beat by the Barracuda though.... Great photos Wisenheimer... Hyfire
preston honea campained this car in 65 66 mostly on the west coast only first with a wedge rambler then a chrysler hemi with hemi amc on the valve covers it ran low 10,s at 135 not very fast by funny car standards but a crowdpleaser just the same preston also had a max wedge plymouth he raced in 64
I looked at a couple marlins years ago with a friend,and when we were talking with the owner,he gave us a long lesson,saying he worked for dodge years ago and that the guy mostly responsible for the design of the chargers (66) left and went to amc for reasons that he could not do what he would have liked at dodge and basically was given the opportunity to design the marlin.I really have no idea to how much truth this was,but the old guy was pretty convincing and knowledgable about his marlins,one had the 327 with a manual,the other had a different motor I believe.neat cars for sure.
Saw that car run at Irwindale. Back when "Funny Cars" were built from door slammers...before the fiberglass flip up bodies.
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