Life, 1909-11-04 · page 52 of 52
Life — November 4, 1909 — page 52: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a straightforward automobile advertisement from Life magazine's November 4, 1909 issue. The ad promotes the Stoddard-Dayton 50 hp Limousine, priced at $3,800. The key sales pitch is "Two cars for the price of one": for only $350 extra, buyers could convert the enclosed winter limousine into an open touring car by swapping bodies. This flexibility appealed to wealthy early-automobile owners who wanted seasonal versatility without purchasing separate vehicles. The advertisement emphasizes luxury features (leather upholstery, electrical lighting, auxiliary folding seats), engineering quality (reinforced aluminum body construction), and customization options (thirty body styles available). The copy positions the Stoddard-Dayton as comparable to cars costing up to $6,000—a significant marketing claim for a $3,800 vehicle in 1910. The Dayton Motor Car Company was based in Dayton, Ohio.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Stoddard-Dayton” 50 hp Limousine *3800 |: ion systems, including Bosch magneto. 5 Lamps. Prest-o-lite tank separate ign Same Car with Landaulet body (back of HREE hundred and fifty dollars is all it costs to transform a “Stod- dard-Dayton"? Limousine into a “*Stoddard-Dayton” Touring Car. It is the height of motoring wisdom to revel in the joys afforded by this handsomest of enclosed cars during the months of sleet, snow and cold, and then, when spring opens up, to replace the Limou- regular ‘Stoddard- Dayton" Touring Car body, at an expense of only $350. sine body with a Two cars for the price The combined price is less than is asked for some Touring cars alone,— cars that have neither better looks to commend them nor give bi i than the “Stoddard-Dayto This 1910 “ Stoddard-Dayton” Li mousine 1s luxuriously fitted up and sumptuously appointed. In looks, as well as in service and construction, it is the equal of cars selling up to $6,000 and over, The Dayton There is not the stighest suspicion of top:heaviness (so often seen in cars of this class), for we have so designed it that its length overshadows its height, while its body presents just enoagh curve in the panels to make it graceful and symmetrical. There is room enough inside to com fortably seat five persons,—-the two aux iliary seats, when not needed, folding in the floor completely out of the way, leav- ing the inside big, roomy and’ com fortable. It will be finished in any combination of colors you desire. It will be uphol stered to suit your particular taste, in either Bedford cord, leather or broad: cloth. When delivered to you it will be a reflection of your individual taste and bear the stamp of your particular ap. proval. Electrically lighted inside, has top lowers, making open vehicle) at same price toilet cases, speaking tube, and the usual equipment. Construction of the body is of lam- inated wood, reinforced with aluminum outsid the most durable, substantial body ever built. The power—50 hp—is sufficient to take this car, with its full load, any where—whether as a Limousine or of ONE ctarsedtotheTour- ing car body. Its long wheelbase and large wheels make it unsurpassed for comfort in riding. In a ‘‘Stoddard-Dayton’’ you can get the car that meets your every want and requirement. There are over thirty styles of body and body combinations to choose from. All toddard-Dayton"’ cars are of one quality, whether 30, 40, 50or60hp. Both material and workman ship are the highest class in all models. They are all one grade, and the price is the same to all buyers. MW/rile to-day for catalog of all 1910 models, Motor Car Company, Dayton, Ohio Member A. L. A. M. Stoddard-Daptun you uv ore comicbooks.com