Life — December 18, 1919 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Advertisement for Packard Twin-Six Motor Car This is a **commercial advertisement**, not political satire. It announces that the Packard Motor Car Company will double production of its Twin-Six engine model in 1920. The ad emphasizes that the engine design is **established and proven** — no changes planned despite competitive pressure to innovate yearly. This was a selling point: reliability over constant redesign. The text references **World War I aviation** as validation; the Twin-Six engine proved itself dependable during wartime aviation emergencies, establishing its reputation. The slogan "Ask the Man Who Owns One" was Packard's actual marketing catchphrase, appealing to owner testimonials rather than manufacturer claims. The illustration shows a cutaway view of the engine mounted on a chassis—typical advertising imagery for the era.