Life — December 15, 1910 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a 1911 advertisement for Packard Motor Cars from Detroit, not political satire. The page features an illustration of a 1911 Packard Eighteen limousine—a luxury automobile with an enclosed passenger cabin and open driver's area. The ad's slogan, "Ask the man who owns one," was Packard's actual marketing tagline, appealing to wealthy buyers by suggesting existing owners could testify to the car's quality. The specific model name and year (visible in the upper left) emphasize exclusivity and precision engineering. The ornate decorative border and formal presentation in *Life* magazine reflect how automobiles were aspirational luxury goods for the affluent in this era. This represents early automotive advertising targeting the wealthy elite during the pioneer age of motorized transportation.