Life, 1913-10-16 · page 6 of 44
Life — October 16, 1913 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satirical content** — it's a straightforward automobile advertisement for the 1914 Oldsmobile, published in *Life* magazine. The page features a full-page ad promoting Oldsmobile's luxury vehicle with a silhouette illustration of the car against a Dutch landscape (windmills visible). The headline "The Man Who Drives An Oldsmobile" appeals to class aspirations, arguing that ownership reflects good taste and refinement. The ad emphasizes technical specifications (six-cylinder engine), quality craftsmanship, and pricing ($2,975 base model). It concludes with the company name and location: Olds Motor Works, Lansing, Michigan. This represents early 20th-century automotive marketing targeting affluent consumers through appeals to status and engineering excellence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Established:-1880 poonpratesl oe $2975 The Man Who Diives An Oldsmobile is justified in that pride of ownership he cannot help but feel, For Oldsmobile quality goes deeper than beauty of line, richness of finish, or completeness of equipment. The Oldsmobile gives you a feeling of stability and security at the first glance. Look first at the lines of this “greatest of all sixes.” Graceful, yet full of strength, quietly harmonious in every detail. Look closer; you have seen automobile bodies that would not bear close scrutiny. Not so the Olds- mobile. Our body builder, who has been with us over a decade, is recognized as the foremost specialist in this field—not only for originality and beauty of design, but because of the thorough Oldsmobile quality that is ap- parent in every detail. Combination 4 or 5 Passenger Phaeton, touring body type, $2975. The Oldsmobile six cylinder unit power plant (three point suspension)—for workmanship and finish can be compared to nothing except a high grade watch. For power, silence, and flexibility there is nothing in the gasoline field with which we can make adequate com- parison. It stands alone; the greatest six cylinder motor ever produced. We make these statements in all sincerity —not in the spirit of using superlatives to create a false impression, but because we cannot modify our expressions and do justice to the 1914 Oldsmobile. Visit our nearest dealer and prove for yourself that the Oldsmobile has no makeshift anywhere; it arouses in you the admiration that every well bred person has for genuineness—for quality—for refined luxury that be- speaks good taste. Seven Passenger touring body, $175 extra. Limousine, $4300. Catalog mailed on request Branches or Dealers in Principal Cities OLDS MOTOR WORKS, LANSING, MICHIGAN comicbooks.com