Life, 1917-12-13 · page 39 of 40
Life — December 13, 1917 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon or satire**, but rather a **straight automobile advertisement** for the Willys-Overland Eight Sedan, priced at $2,700. The page promotes the car as "The Car Without Limitations," emphasizing its mechanical reliability (the Knight motor "improves with use"), flexible body design (can be "entirely or partially open, or converted"), and superior construction compared to competing types. The illustration shows the sedan in an idyllic rural setting with bare trees and a cottage, suggesting reliability and countryside capability. The accompanying text makes technical claims about durability and performance advantages. This represents typical early-1920s automotive advertising strategy: positioning a mid-priced vehicle as mechanically superior and versatile for American consumers seeking practical, durable transportation. There is no satirical intent or political commentary evident.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
world rhaps ~er— ¢ you grew 1 why 1, and R. Seven Passenger Eight Sedan 2700 fio. b. Te PERL, KF EBER A, The Car Without Limitatio s ity and provis' he vast Willys- ‘Overland closed cars should excel me- chanically as well as in body t— «l significant monetary ct should be weighed in the selection of your closed car. The Knight motor is the only type of motor that im- proves with use. No other type is when brand new, in quiet flexible, vibrationless opera- tion, And, as others gradually decline due to carbon or the s i principles of construction When other type up for repair: ments the Willys in serv It_can be entire! rtially open, or possess a car that is free from limitations of bod ma- chinery —let your Willys- Overt er show you an. Willy: stu el Toledo, Ohio a comicbooks.com