Generally, the automotive world is fairly focused on land, mostly because that’s the primary place car owners tend to use their vehicles, Amphicars aside. That also could be why car names tend to be focused on land-dwelling animals and other things, but not exclusively. There are some aquatic-animal-named cars out there, but not too many. Some have secondary names from aquatic animals, like the Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, but for this moment, I want to focus on what I believe are the two best-known cars named for fish: the Plymouth Barracuda and the AMC Marlin.
Importantly, both of these cars could be had with hood ornaments, and, even more importantly, these hood ornaments featured fish. I believe these are the most-produced OEM fish-based hood ornaments, and the approaches taken by the two companies to the design of these pescatorial hood ornaments are similar and yet quite different, so I think they’re worth evaluating. Because, again, it’s important, dammit.
Both of these fish-cars were similar sorts of muscle car fastback designs, and both quite appealing in their own ways. As is expected from AMC, the Marlin is the stranger of the two, with slightly more awkward – but still quite engaging – styling. The original concept for the Marlin was a concept car based on the Rambler American named for another fish, a tarpon.
The production Marlin had a higher roof and more awkward proportions, arguably, but retained the fastback and pillar-less design that gave the car its unusual charm.
Plymouth’s Barracuda was the more popular of the fish-cars by a pretty significant margin, and I think the Barracuda had a bolder look, mostly due to that huge, curved rear window glass:
They weren’t actually ever painted in cool stripes like that; this was just some brochure magic. Also, here’s a better view of that fantastic, massive rear window glass:
But look, as much fun as this is, I don’t want to get sidetracked into a full discussion of the aesthetics of these two fastbacks; we’re here to decide which car had a better rendition of a fish on their hoods. So, with that in mind, let’s look at these two fish hood ornaments:
Look at these! Two similar yet quite different approaches to making a chromed fish on the end of your hood appealing. I think the Barracuda may have had a harder job here, since I think it’s the uglier of the two fish in reality, though I’m not sure how much of a looker a Marlin really is:
So, let’s consider the two approaches carefully: the Barracuda takes a side view of the fish, embraces its long narrowness, and stylizes the fish quite effectively, simplifying its forms until it becomes sleek and machine-like. The stylized fish is set over a circle, which significantly, doesn’t bound the fish, which breaks through its edges at either end. The result is powerful and sculptural, but perhaps a bit static.
The Marlin’s approach is quite different; we have a view of a leaping marlin, its body curving dramatically and gracefully into a swoosh. This one is bounded by a circle too, but in the Marlin’s case the fish is not just entirely contained within the chromed circle, it’s contained quite easily and with generous room, making the fish feel a bit small. The interior isn’t an empty void like the Barracuda one, either; a bluish-transparent plastic insert with a cocentric circle pattern fills the space, evoking water ripples or a target or a radar scope, depending on your state of mind.
It’s tricky, I’m really not certain which fish ornament I prefer; I think the Barracuda is more clean and bold, but the Marlin is doing some interesting things, too.
Here, if it helps you decide, you can listen to two songs relating to these fish. First, Barracuda by Heart:
A classic! What a banger about a fish! For the Marlin, we have George Strait’s Blue Marlin Blues:
Also a solid fish-themed song!
Okay, time for you to put down whatever other bullshit you’re doing, really focus and choose:
Also, feel free to explain yourself or argue or berate or cajole or evangalize or whatever in the comments! It’s fun! At least fun-ish!
If it all comes down to fish-themed songs, anybody got a hood ornament that looks like a ROCK LOBSTER?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n4QSYx4wVQg
Saw them just a few years back: their energy is still amazing, and the crowd they attract made it one of my top 10 most fun shows ever.
-gave you a smiley cause you gave me one first
This song is so hilarious and I drive my wife crazy yelling ROCK LOBSTER! sometimes…I used to work w/ someone who yelled it at work and I busted out laughing so hard!
If it all comes down to fish-themed songs, anybody got a hood ornament that looks like a ROCK LOBSTER?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n4QSYx4wVQg
Saw them just a few years back: their energy is still amazing, and the crowd they attract made it one of my top 10 most fun shows ever.
-gave you a smiley cause you gave me one first
This song is so hilarious and I drive my wife crazy yelling ROCK LOBSTER! sometimes…I used to work w/ someone who yelled it at work and I busted out laughing so hard!
You can’t bring up fish songs and not mention “Wet Dream.”
My Barracuda is in the shop, so I’m in a rented Stingray, but it’s overheating.
You can’t bring up fish songs and not mention “Wet Dream.”
My Barracuda is in the shop, so I’m in a rented Stingray, but it’s overheating.
If I were buying a car I’ve always had a soft spot for the Marlin and AMC in general, but I like the barracuda hood ornament better.
If I were buying a car I’ve always had a soft spot for the Marlin and AMC in general, but I like the barracuda hood ornament better.
I went with Marlin, both are referenced in the Kip Adotta Wet Dream ‘song’ so there’s that, but the Barracuda logo has it’s mouth open like it’s about to say something but never does and I find that tedious.
I went with Marlin, both are referenced in the Kip Adotta Wet Dream ‘song’ so there’s that, but the Barracuda logo has it’s mouth open like it’s about to say something but never does and I find that tedious.
The marlin would probably look like a dolphin from any sort of distance and especially since the fish is positioned to look like the popular ones from Miami.
Barracuda wins.
The marlin would probably look like a dolphin from any sort of distance and especially since the fish is positioned to look like the popular ones from Miami.
Barracuda wins.
The barracuda is better looking, but if they did a leaping marlin hood ornament, a la Jaaag, I would have to have one. Although it would be a disaster from the pedestrian safety standpoint.
The barracuda is better looking, but if they did a leaping marlin hood ornament, a la Jaaag, I would have to have one. Although it would be a disaster from the pedestrian safety standpoint.
Team Marlin here. I like the curvature – it’s more stylish than the more linear ‘cuda and I’m not fond of the latter’s open mouth.
Team Marlin here. I like the curvature – it’s more stylish than the more linear ‘cuda and I’m not fond of the latter’s open mouth.
The shape of the Marlin does not evoke the fish to me. It looks like the perspective is from below looking up to the sky. It fails to provide the classic Marlin look. the spike is missing, and the telltale dorsal is lost in the figure. The Barracuda shape lives up to the fish.
The shape of the Marlin does not evoke the fish to me. It looks like the perspective is from below looking up to the sky. It fails to provide the classic Marlin look. the spike is missing, and the telltale dorsal is lost in the figure. The Barracuda shape lives up to the fish.
I remember both these from when I was a wee lad…
I’m here for the Marlin – if only for the “Old Man And The Sea” associations. (and because I’ve been to some of those locations when we made it down to Cuba)
Which reminds me of a certain F150 in Key West which has been covered in fish….
(No, not the B.O.’s Fish Wagon – the other one)
I remember both these from when I was a wee lad…
I’m here for the Marlin – if only for the “Old Man And The Sea” associations. (and because I’ve been to some of those locations when we made it down to Cuba)
Which reminds me of a certain F150 in Key West which has been covered in fish….
(No, not the B.O.’s Fish Wagon – the other one)
Story idea: “Top 10 Epic Rear Windows”, I’ll get you started: 911 Targa, AMC Pacer, RX-8, Monte Carlo SS Aero, etc.
1947-52 Studebaker Starlight Coupes
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe (the split window – Honorable mention to the succeeding 1964-67 coupes)
1971-73 Buick Riviera
1977-79 Chevrolet Impala/Caprice Coupes
1977-78 Oldsmobile Toronado XS
Then there’s the entire lineage of “Breezeway” rear windows, which could be an article themselves:
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
1958-1960 Lincoln Continentals
1963-1967 Mercurys
Story idea: “Top 10 Epic Rear Windows”, I’ll get you started: 911 Targa, AMC Pacer, RX-8, Monte Carlo SS Aero, etc.
1947-52 Studebaker Starlight Coupes
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe (the split window – Honorable mention to the succeeding 1964-67 coupes)
1971-73 Buick Riviera
1977-79 Chevrolet Impala/Caprice Coupes
1977-78 Oldsmobile Toronado XS
Then there’s the entire lineage of “Breezeway” rear windows, which could be an article themselves:
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
1958-1960 Lincoln Continentals
1963-1967 Mercurys
Interesting that Torch chose to depict the face-lifted ‘67 Marlin, but not the ‘67 Barracuda which was a radical departure from the homely Valiant-based originals. Trying to influence the vote maybe?
Interesting that Torch chose to depict the face-lifted ‘67 Marlin, but not the ‘67 Barracuda which was a radical departure from the homely Valiant-based originals. Trying to influence the vote maybe?
I picked the Marlin, because a fish in a Loony Tunes logo is just perfect!
I picked the Marlin, because a fish in a Loony Tunes logo is just perfect!
I think the Marlin is the better logo but Hyundai really missed out by not putting a shark on the Tiburon.
The rear script is shark-inspired (similar font to in the ad below without the outline), but they definitely should’ve gone further.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5AAAAOSwO8VfmZq4/s-l1600.jpg