Life, 1921-11-17 · page 29 of 34
Life — November 17, 1921 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **automobile advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes the Wills Sainte Claire, a luxury car manufactured by C.H. Wills and Company in Marysville, Michigan. The ad uses narrative descriptions of driving experiences—passing other cars, handling rough roads, making turns easily—to highlight the vehicle's superior performance and "Mo-lyb-den-um" (molybdenum steel) construction. The small inset illustration shows a close-up detail of the car's interior. For modern readers: This represents early automotive advertising's emphasis on mechanical innovation and performance capabilities. The molybdenum steel reference was a genuine technological selling point of the era. The "Four-Passenger Roadster" with a rumble seat was a popular open-air style. The color options (maroon, Newport blue, Liberty green) reflect 1920s luxury market preferences. This is primarily commercial content rather than 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.
ae et te th ts os ath tt tt tt th th St tr th tt eee SS WILLS SAINTE CLAIRE The Mo-lyb-den-um Car —ay HAT car that quickly and easily passed you on the boulevard— ~~] That went comfortably over that rough piece of road without ©) slowing up—when you had quickly to apply your brakes— That seemed to fly through space on wings as it whizzed by ————SsxJ you on the hill— That made the turn with such ease, without slowing down— That was a Wills Sainte Claire, carrying an owner enthusiastic regarding its new sense of comfort and security, its Mo-lyb-den-um construction, its graceful design and remarkable acceleration. You are invited to give the Wills Sainte Claire most critical examination and road test. It very promptly demonstrates its superiority. The 8-cylinder Wills Sainte Claire is built in four models—5 Passenger Touring Car, 4 Passenger Roadster, 4 Passenger Coupe, and the Sedan, with 2 auxiliary seats C:-H-WILLS AND COMPANY DMarysville, Pett ichigan Four-Passenger Roadster A car for the man who loves action— Rumble seat in rear accommodates two persons comfortably—Body finished in maroon, Newport blue, or Liberty green. | FO Re, a wt te, ot ot —————— ee comicbooks.com