Life — December 19, 1912 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Content Analysis This is **not a cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward automobile advertisement from approximately 1913. The page promotes the Packard Motor Car Company's "Left Drive '38" model, highlighting modern features: left-hand drive (then innovative), electric self-starter, centralized steering-column controls, electric lighting, and magneto ignition. The text emphasizes these were cutting-edge conveniences positioning Packard as the standard for present and future automobiles. The illustration shows the 1913 Packard "38" Imperial Limousine, a luxury vehicle. This is a standard early-automotive-era advertisement with no political or satirical content — simply marketing advanced engineering to wealthy consumers.