Life, 1921-07-28 · page 33 of 34
Life — July 28, 1921 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward automobile advertisement for the Lafayette motor car, made by Lafayette Motors Company in Indianapolis. The page features: - **Top**: An illustration of "The Four-Door Coupe," a 1920s-era automobile shown in profile - **Text**: Marketing copy promising that after driving a Lafayette, owners will find all other cars inadequate by comparison - **Bottom**: The Lafayette brand name with a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette (the Revolutionary War general), which appears to be the company's logo The advertisement uses emotional persuasion rather than specifications—emphasizing the car's power (100 horsepower), reliability, and the lasting impression it makes on drivers. The historical portrait lends prestige through association with the famous French military figure. This is standard early automotive advertising, not editorial commentary or satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Four-Door Coupe You HavE ALWAYS THERE WOULD The best LaFayette advertise- mentsare never publishedinany magazine or newspaper. They are the words of praise free- spoken by the men and women who have driven this car. After your first ride ina LAFAYETTE you yourself will say, ‘‘I always knew there would be such a car.”’ From the moment you take the wheeland release that abundant flood of power you will be wholly won. KNOWN BE SUCH A CAR Fleet, eager, tireless, it lures you on, careless of distance, ruler of a hundred horsepower. You will give up the wheel with reluctance at parting with this splendid car. And forever after, whenever you drive another you will be impatient of its slightest fault. After such a ride you will envy the LaFayetre owner the perform- ance which is always his. LAFAYETTE MOTORS COMPANY at Oars Ail Inpianapous comicbooks.com