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!
You missed one;
https://i.imgur.com/AM54Woh.jpeg
Only considering the ornaments; Barracuda. The simplified fish conveys motion, the circle shows it is breaking boundaries, it looks good alone or on the car. The Marlin is shown at it’s worst. Static at the apex of a leap, poised to fall, most likely hooked and doomed. It’s a celebration of the fisherman, not the fish.
One car lead to the ‘Cuda and Challenger, the other….
The Marlin logo implies it’s better in the curves, while the Barracuda logo implies a faster 0-60.
I suppose it depends on what you prefer in a car.
Also, barracudas tend to be attracted to shiny objects, which isn’t the best trait to carry over to drivers.
I vote for John Cale’s Barracuda over Heart’s. Also love the picture of the striped Plymouth: “Here’s a big glass of wine, honey, enjoy your drive!”
I like the Marlin better…love the blue background…also, thanks for more stuff to be able to vote for…it’s fun!
As a past owner, and fisherman with one on my wall, I have to go with the ‘Cuda.
My brother was given a less than one year old Marlin when he graduated high school. I was barely in double digits, but thought that was the coolest car (what did I know?). Has to be the Marlin for me.
Barracuda, both the car and the hood ornament look better, but honestly if i was a collector of hood ornaments i would say both, and honestly i never thought that people collect these as a hobby.
Chose the ‘Cuda mostly because my little brother had a ‘66 Formula S with a 273 V8 and a factory Hurst 4 speed. 4 barrel, custom headers, slotted Cragar mags. Also had dual black racing stripes down the middle, also factory. Cool car.
The Barracuda is certainly more stylish, but I voted Marlin, because it looks like the button the beleaguered 1960s TV cops would press to summon The Marlin to come and save the day. Driving in an AMC-based Marlin-Mobile, natch (it should keep the AMC’s splendid proportions, but with harpoon guns or something. And it can definitely be used as a speed oat and/or a mini-sub)
So, yeah. Marlin.
No, I haven’t done much work this afternoon.
It’s very close for me, as I like them both, but as a kid I always thought the Marlin was just such a cool logo on a car. The Barracuda logo is objectively better since it is easier to recognize at a quick glance, but nostalgia wins the day for me.
Marlin’s logo looks like a can of tuna with a leaping dolphin, and it doesn’t resemble marlin enough. Barracuda’s logo on the other hand is perfectly balanced between simplifying and showing all characteristic traits of this fish.
Evaluating design of those fish as a living animals is totally different for me.
Marlin has pointy nose, elongated top fin and sharp tail and side fins. Its proportions and two-tone paint job are all about speed and style.
Barracuda looks like it was hastily assebled with mismatched parts just to achieve its performance of fast moving predator. Its jaw looks strange, head and middle section is a too much stretched and every other fin seems to come from different fish.
Which really makes ‘Barracuda’ a far more apt name for an AMC product. I’ve all the love in the world for them, but sometimes they looked like a timehole opened up in Kenosha in the mid-50s and a Dell Inspiron loaded with a copy of Automation and BeamNG but no browser cache or any other any reference materials fell out onto the meeting table in the AMC styling department.
The Marlin badge is more traditional by being fully enclosed. But the open mouth of the Barracuda grabs me! Then you notice its long body slashing through the circle. Had it been on a family coupe, it would’ve looked odd, but on a early muscle car, I think it’s perfect.
Yeah, well, I’m going outside the box here and choosing the Gordon Keeble turtle, which I know you love too 😉
I don’t know how much truth is in the story but when the Gordon Keeble was being photographed for the first publicity shots, someone found a turtle nearby and put it on the bonnet for a fun picture. The turtle immediately peed on the car which they decided was good luck and that’s why the background of the badge is yellow.
That story—along with the awesome turtle—is why I occasionally search for a replica that fits my old BMW badge. That would be fun at Cars & Coffee
AMC Forever. That is all.
Check out this awesome cover of Barracuda by a group of kids. No..really..the girl singing was like 13 at the time)
https://youtu.be/u2hpf8CdvMw?si=KYfTdKfaKC5gcnyk
As a lifelong fan of the Plymouth Barracuda, the fish Barracuda, the song Barracuda, the word Barracuda (it just rolls off the tongue!), and the former Barracuda Bay water park at Six Flags Darien lake in Corfu, NY….I vote Marlin.
Nah I’ll go with the ‘Cuda.
Shout out to Marlin Perkins!
Going with the Marlin since it was a Baracuda that ate Nemo’s mom and siblings.
What an asshole.
I think the marlin ornament is dated, probably because of the blue plastic. The barracuda could be used today, and it’s much more agressive, I think this is better for a “sport*” car (* I’m french and I’ve only seen these cars in videogames, so I can only judge on the look)
I have one of these emblems. The blue part is painted over the metal. I pretty sue neither of these cars had any plastic.
I’ve never seen those cars in the wild, so I was just trusting Jason : “a bluish-transparent plastic insert”
The Marlin looks just like some kind of dolphin as they’ve made the pointy thing way too fat,I think the Barracuda looks more like what it is.
Barracudas can accelerate quickly, but the have a high final drive ratio and their top end is limited.
Marlins are one if the fastest fish in the sea, up there with Tunas. But no one wants a Tuna GT Turbo Coupe.
Are you really sure that no one is this group wants a Tuna GT??
Haven’t you heard of the Japanese tuna car culture?
Well, I once had a Datsun B210 that was basically a tuna can.
You can’t bring up fish songs and not mention “Wet Dream,” by Kip Adotta
https://youtu.be/6l1GvDWtccI?si=-eOrJDg2yKz7KcDo
I have to disagree with those proclaiming the Marlin is not commanding enough because it doesn’t fill or extend beyond the space. If you see a Marlin leap in real life it’s a large (almost as long as its namesake car), impressive fish that’s still completely miniscule against its ocean backdrop.
Marlin all the way, a better looking ornament on a better looking car.
Cuda 100%