Life, 1914-10-15 · page 33 of 48
Life — October 15, 1914 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon but an advertisement** disguised as news reporting in Life magazine. The page promotes Hudson Motor Car Company's Six-40 automobile. The ad uses pseudo-journalistic language to present sales figures ($930,000 weekly, 152 cars sold in one day) as evidence of the car's superiority. It emphasizes that demand so far exceeds supply that customers must wait weeks—a scarcity tactic presented as proof of desirability. The designer **Howard E. Coffin** is repeatedly credited as an authority figure lending credibility. The ad claims the Six-40 represents innovation: lighter weight, lower operating costs, and features previously unavailable at this price point ($1,550). The real pitch: buy now because next year's models are available and summer driving season approaches. This exploits post-war (likely WWI era) pent-up demand for automobiles when production had been limited. The "satire" label may be misapplied—this reads as straightforward, if aggressive, marketing masquerading as objective reporting.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
$930,000 Per Week Paid for HUDSON Cars $235,600 Paid by Users in One Day On September 15—the day before this was wniten—dealers sold to users 152 HUDSON Six-40's. That is, yesterday buyers of new cars paid out $235,600 for HUDSONS. The average has long been $930,000 per week—because that is the limit of output. We are building and selling 100 per day. That is five times as many—five times, mark you—as we sold at this season last year. And we had no war then. Our average sales have more than trebled since August Ist. Means That Hudsons Rule This Field In July—when we brought out this new model—we trebled our output to cope with the demand. Thirty days later—despite our best efforts—we were 4,000 cars oversold. We shipped by express nearly 1,000 cars to minimize delays. That is unprece- dented. But thousands of men waited weeks for this car when other cars were plentiful. No other could satisfy men who once saw this new-model HUDSON Six-40. Fivefold Increase an Amazing Thing Consider that the HUDSON has long been a leading car. Every model for years has been designed by Howard E. Coffin. He has brought out in these cars all his new advances. And the demand for his models—long before this Six-40—gave HUDSONS the lead. The first HUDSON Six, in- side of one year, made us the largest builders of six-cylinder cars in the world. Think what a car this must be—this new HUDSON Six-40—to multiply this popularity by five in one year. And to do it at a time like this. Think how far it must outrank all the cars that compete with it. Think what a tremendous appeal it must make to car buyers. Think how it attracts—how it must ex- cel—when in times like these they pay $930,000 per week for it. And they would have paid more had we had the cars to deliver—as shown by yesterday's sales of 152 cars. The HUDSON Six-40 is today the largest-selling car in the world with a price above $1,200. See the Car That Did It Howard E. Coffin’s Best Go now and see this model—the car whose record is unmatched in the annals of this line. You will see a quality car sold ata price which is winning men by the thousands from lower-grade cars. You will see a class car—in many re- spects the finest car of the day—sold at one-third what class cars used to cost. You will see how clever designing and costly materials have saved about 1,000 pounds in weight. And in this light car— the lightest seven-seat car—you will see one of the sturdiest cars ever built. You will see a new-type motor which has cut down operative cost about 30 per cent. Six 40 HUDSON $1550 You will see new beauties, new ideas in equipment, new comforts, new conveni- ences. You will see scores of attractions you have never seen before. They are all in this masterpiece of Howard E. Coffin, who has long been the leading American designer. This is his finished ideal of a car, and many count him final authority. Mr. Coffin has worked for four years on this model, with 47 other HUDSON engineers. Part by part, they have refined to the limit every detail of the car. This is the acceptable proven type. This lightness, beauty, economy and price are new-day standards which men are demanding. And this quality—Howard E. Coffin’s level best—is the least men will take when they know. Now (Is the Time Now is the time to pick out your new car. Next year's models are out now. You see what the field has to offer. And the best touring months are before you— the Indian Summer days. Get your new cars and enjoy them. If you buy a class car, this new HUD- SON Six-40 is the car you'll want. The exclusive features which have won so much favor are bound to appeal to you. Your dealer will see that you get your car promptly if we have to ship by express. Five New-Style Bodies: 7-Passenger Phaeton, $1,550 3-Passenger Roadster, $1,550 3-Passenger Cabriolet, $1,750 4-Passenger Coupe, $2,150 Luxurious Limousine, $2,550 All f. o. b. Detroit Canadian Price: Phaeton or Roadster, $2,100 f. o. b. Detroit, Duty Paid. HUDSON MOTOR CAR COMPANY, 8254 Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Michigan comicbooks.com