Life — August 29, 1912 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is **not a cartoon or satirical content** — it's a straightforward automobile advertisement for the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan. The page features a technical illustration of the Packard "38," a six-cylinder touring car, alongside detailed specifications (horsepower, engine bore/stroke, wheelbase, tire dimensions, etc.) and pricing for various body styles ($4,150–$5,500). The advertised features emphasize luxury and modern convenience: left-hand drive, electric self-starter, electric lighting, and steering-column controls — innovations that would have appealed to affluent early 20th-century buyers. This represents standard commercial advertising from Life magazine's era, promoting premium automobiles to wealthy readers rather than political or social satire.