Life, 1915-09-09 · page 43 of 44
Life — September 9, 1915 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not satirical content** — it's a straightforward automobile advertisement for the 1916 Overland Six automobile, placed in *Life* magazine. The silhouetted illustration shows a well-dressed family (seven passengers as advertised) riding in an open-air touring car against a moonlit landscape, emphasizing the vehicle's spaciousness and appeal to middle-class buyers. The ad's pitch is that buyers shouldn't underestimate the car's size and quality despite its moderate $1,145 price. It emphasizes practical features: a 125-inch wheelbase, seven-passenger capacity, 45-horsepower engine, and modern conveniences like electric starters and magnetic ignition—features typically found in more expensive vehicles. The Willys-Overland Company manufactured this model in Toledo, Ohio. This represents early-1900s automotive marketing, targeting consumers who wanted car ownership without luxury pricing. There is no satire or political commentary here—merely commercial promotion in the style of period magazine advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
me MUMER A Big Roomy Six— A Very Moderate WHEN you think of a “*S7x’’ at $7/45 you naturally think of a much smaller car. So, to fully appreciate the remarkable value you get in this car, you must grasp the full significance of its size. The wheelbase is longer, /25 inches. That gives plenty of room to carry its full quota of seven passengers in real comfort. The tires are bigger, 35x44. That further emphasizes the generous size of this new six. But it is not only a big car ata remarkably low price for its size. Its 45-horsepower six cylin- der motor gives it ample power —it is efficiently lubricated Specifications Model 86 Seven passenger toaring 1s. my hecheve fiek? Teaton magneto inition Bese id Electrically leadlight di Haiteeantine bo body devi design Genuine leather upholst One-man top fm Ta all doors Fall ‘focting rear axle Extra long undersleng rear springs 3S-inch x 4'4-inch tires; smooth tread in front; non-skids in rear Left-hand drive Wich grode magnetic speedometer lectrie horn Electric control batons on steering colamn Model 83, four: Touring, $ Hinder, five passenter Also manufacturers of the Willys-Knight ‘Automobiles. “Made in U.S. A.” Catalog on request. Address Dept. 328 Pri and economical in gasoline consumption. It has that certainty of igni- tion provided only by high ten- sion magneto. The starting and lighting system is of the two- unit electric type. Electric control buttons are located right at your hand on the steering column—a conven- ience found only in very much higher priced cars. Its specifications throughout are those of a thoroughly high grade car. See the Overland dealer in your town and ask him to show you the 1916 Overland Six and demonstrate it to you. Deliveries now. The Willys-Overland Company, Toledo, Ohio Canadian Price, Model 86, $1600 f.0. b. Hamilton The Willys-Overland of Canada, Limited, Hamilton ‘Ont. comicbooks.com