Life, 1914-08-20 · page 31 of 40
Life — August 20, 1914 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is purely a **product advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes the Willys-Overland Company's Model 80 automobile, priced at $1,075. The image shows well-dressed men and women admiring a sleek open-air automobile, representing the aspirational lifestyle the car promised to buyers. The ad emphasizes luxury features new for 1915: electric starting and lighting, a streamlined body, improved upholstery, left-hand drive, and a powerful 35-horsepower engine with a 114-inch wheelbase. For modern readers: this represents early automotive marketing targeting middle-to-upper-class buyers. Features now standard—electric ignition, power windows—were then premium selling points. The illustrated figures reflect 1910s fashion and social class markers. The ad's breathless tone about "greatest value ever offered" uses hyperbole typical of period advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
the. peincgat os Baines, py to LATE, +1075 Model 80 The Greatest Motor Car Value Ever Offered ‘OW, with pride, we an- nounce our latest car— Model 80—the greatest value this factory has ever placed on the market. Model 80 has a brand-new stream-line body. Its full sweep- ing stream-lines blend and har- monize perfectly with the balance of the symmetrical design. All visible lines are absolutely clean, unbroken and uninterrupted. The new crowned moulded fenders, new rounded radiator, new hood slightly sloped, and flush U doors with disappearing hinges, contribute the additional touches of exterior grace and modishness which distinguish costly imported cars. The new tonneau is much larger—both in width and in depth. The new cushioned upholstery is also considerably deeper and Softer, This model is equipped with the finest electric starting and electric lighting system. All switches, in a compact switch box, are conveniently located on the steering column. Thus, in the driving position, without A Few of the 1915 Model 80 Features Motor 35 h. p. New full stream-line bod, Instrument board in cowl dash Individual front seats, high backs Tonneau, longer and wider Upholstery, deeper and softer Windshield, rain vision, ventilating type, built-in Crowned fenders Electric starter Electric lights High-tension magneto Thermo-syphon cooling Five-bearing crankshaft Rear axle, floating type Spring, rear, 3-4 elliptic, extra long, underslung Wheelbase, 114 inches Larger tires, 34 inch x 4 inch Demountable rims—one extra Left-hand drive Beautiful new Brewster green body finish Complete equipment Handsome 1915 Catalogue on request. Please eddress Dept. 16. stretching forward or bending down, you start the car, drive the car and control the electric horn and all head, side, tail and dash lights. This car has left-hand drive and center control. The tires are larger this year, be- ing 34 inch by 4 inch all around. These tires can be quickly detached from the rims which are demountable. One extra rim furnished. Ignition is high tension magneto, independent of starting and lighting system. It requires no dry cells. This new Overland rides with re- markable smoothness, taking the ruts and rough spots with the ease of the highest priced cars. There is the famous, powerful, speedy, snappy, economical and quiet 35 horsepower Overland motor; and a long wheelbase of 114 inches. This car comes complete. Elec- tric starter, electric lights, built-in windshield, mohair top and boot, extra rim, jeweled magnetic speed- ometer, electric horn, robe rail, foot rest and curtain box. This new model is ready for your inspection in practically every city and town in the country. Dealers are now taking orders. Make arrangements now for your demonstration. The Willys-Overland Company, Toledo, Ohio Two passenger Roadster $1050 The Willys-Overland of Canada, Limited, Hamilton, Ont. Prices f.0.b. Toledo, Ohio