The Crossfire Coupes very "Marlinesque" roof line is the only reason I didn't immediately fall for the Crossfire the moment I saw it. Even though I'm an avid AMC enthusiast, the Marlin was one of my least favorite AMC designs. It wasn't because I didn't like the fast back styling, it was simply because it was on too big of a car (the Rambler Classic). It took me over 6 mos. to realize that I actually liked it on a small sports car like the Crossfire, and that's when I got serious about trying to buy one.
Still, I always wondered if the Marlin was (the Creator) Eric Stoddard's inspiration for the Crossfire coupes design, so I PM'd him.

Just a moment of your time - 06-10-2007 , 10:09 AM

Eric, Mike here. I just wanted to privately tell you what a phenomenal job you did with this car.
I've always been a "car nut" and drawn to unusual, and unique designs. But (as I posted on the forum) the Crossfire is one of, if not "the" most beautiful car I've owned, and I've owned nearly 100 cars.
In high school I used to dream about being an automotive design engineer, but was unable to fulfill that dream. I envy you your occupation, and talent.
If I'm not being too personal, I would like to ask you just one question. Was the American Motors "Marlin" your inspiration for the Crossfires roof design? Or is their similarity purely coincidental?
As you can tell by my avatar, and my forum name, I'm somewhat of an AMC buff.
Even though I disliked the Marlins roofline (the car was too large for it IMO) I was absolutely astonished at how perfect it was on the Crossfire. You did such an excellent job incorporating it into the Crossfires over all design, that I would have to say it is as tasteful and as memorable as the "fastback" 1963/67 Corvettes. I love following my wife when ever she's driving our Crossfire because it has such a unique and entrancing rearend.
Sorry for such a long PM, but I just had to write to you and let you know how excited I still am over "your" car. I've never had the opportunity to actually tell a designer (of one of my cars) how much I apppreciated their work until now, and I didn't want to pass it up.
Oh yes, I almost forgot. I really am looking forward to seeing your rendition of the new design for the Tiburon.
Take Care
Mike
and this was his reply.

Re: Just a moment of your time - 06-10-2007 , 09:23 PM

Mike-

Thank you very much for the great feedback and the compliments on the Crossfire design. I'm sort of a closet AMC fan myself. But the main inspiration for the Crossfire design were cars like the Auburn boattail speedster, and later the '63 Stingray and '68 Mustang fastback. The objective was to create a purely American art deco streamliner aesthetic. Tom Gale chose the design because it reminded him of the Stingray. But I never thought about the Marlin until Jim Holden, Chrysler's COO at the time, said it reminded him of a Marlin! I thought the project would get buried right there, but we kept going, and no one mentioned the Marlin again. The rest is history. I have a book on AMC history, and I've always been fascinated by underdog car companies. Maybe that's one of the reasons I went to Hyundai. Another AMC footnote, the clay modeler who modeled the Crossfire is an ex-AMC guy who claims Chrysler bought AMC because of him! Thanks again for your support and great feedback.

-Eric

I hope this helps to clear things up, since it's straight from the horses mouth (so to speak).