Life, 1914-01-08 · page 43 of 44
Life — January 8, 1914 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **full-page automobile advertisement**, not a political cartoon or satire. It promotes the 1914 Overland car by the Willys-Overland Company of Toledo, Ohio. The ad's rhetorical strategy uses repetitive contrast: it claims the Overland offers superior features (larger motor, longer wheelbase, larger tires, electric lights, finer finishes, better upholstery) at a lower price ($950) than competitors. The repeated phrase "but the price is lower" drives home the value proposition. The ad also emphasizes the car's official prestige—it won "First Position" at the National 1914 Automobile Show and helped Toledo become "the second greatest automobile city in the world." For modern readers: this represents early automotive marketing emphasizing affordability and feature-richness as competitive advantages. The *Life* magazine context suggests this appealed to educated, middle-class consumers interested in new technology. The detailed technical specs (horsepower, tire size, wheelbase) reflect how car specs were marketed as selling points in this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Completely Equipped f. 0. b. Toledo With electric starter and generator--$1075 Awarded “First Position” at the World’s Greatest Automobile Show HE extraordinary supremacy of the 1914 Overland has been officially recognized by the Automobile Chamber of Commerce. Because the Willys-Overland Company did a greater volume of business during 1913 than any other firm in this organization, it was awarded the position of honor at the great National 1914 Automobile Show in the Grand Central Palace, New York City. Do you know that the 1914 Overland is to- day the most sought after car of its type in the entire civilized world? Even in Detroit, the automobile hub of the world, there are more Overlands being sold than any other car of this type. The Overland has made, established and won for Toledo with its individual plants alone, the title of the second greatest automobile city in the world. Has it ever occurred to you that there must be some substantial reason for such unparalleled success? There is, and here it is. No other factory in the world can build a car the equal of the 1914 Overland for less than $1200. Our price—-$950. The Motor is larger—but the price is lower. The wheelbase is longer—but the price is shorter. The tires are larger—but the price is lower. The new car has electric lights throughout— even under the dash—but the price is lower. It is magnificently finished in dark Brewster green, with running boards and wheels to match, trimmed in polished nickel ahd aluminum—but the price is lower. Then there is a larger tonneau, a jeweled Stewart Speedometer—a larger steering wheel, and deeper upholstery—but the price is lower. There is an Overland dealer near See him today. you. Literature on request. Please address Dept. 16 The Willys-Overland Company, Toledo, Ohio Electric head, side, tail and dash lights Storage battery 35 horsepower motor 33x4Q. D. tires 114 in. wheel base Mohair top, curtains and boot Clear-vision windshield Stewart speedometer Electric horn comicbooks.com