Life, 1913-02-27 · page 6 of 40
Life — February 27, 1913 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**, but rather a **straightforward advertisement** for the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit. The page promotes the Packard "38" automobile model through a series of rhetorical questions emphasizing reliability and durability—claiming it runs thousands of miles without overhauls and retains strong resale value. The ad lists technical features (left-drive, electric starter, hydraulic governor, etc.) as evidence of the vehicle's superiority, concluding that this "comprehensive solution" addresses "all the chief problems of recent years." The Packard Control Board illustration at top shows the vehicle's dashboard instruments. This appears to be a luxury car advertisement from the early 20th century, appealing to "discriminating buyers" through appeals to engineering excellence rather than satire or humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
10 Co ¥s Ann ATTA M a Packard Control Board Answered by the Packard’3S° MUVLNVUSUUTC OOOOH OTONGUOQUUUMANUCAAAAALACGANUUUOIMA Why is a Packard at its best after thousands of miles of hard usage on the road? Why will a Packard run so long without mechanical attention? Why can a Packard run 30,000 miles without overhauling? Why may a Packard owner start on a thousand-mile tour at a moment’s notice? Why will a Packard bought this spring have a higher relative cash value next fall, next spring or five years hence than any other car purchased at the same time? Why does the discriminating buyer demand a Packard? Ask the man who owns one Here are some of the “38” features looking to safety, convenience and Maximum Service: Left Drive Short Turning Radius Electric Self Starter Six Cylinders Perfected Electric Lighting Dry Plate Clutch Centralized Control Forced Feed Oiling Separate Magneto Ignition Extra Large Crank Shaft Hydraulic Governor Six-inch Depth of Frame The Bridge Builder's Factor of Safety The sum of these essentials is to be found in no other car. This com- prehensive solution in one motor carriage of all the chief problems of recent years compels the consideration of the critical patron. Demonstration by any Packard dealer on any kind of road Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit —— AATEEAEAN | comicbooks.com