Life — January 25, 1923 — page 27: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon mocks automotive advertising claims about "horsepower." The joke shows a literal interpretation: to measure a car's claimed power, actual horses are harnessed to pull it across an arena floor while crowds watch from the stands. The cartoon critiques Detroit automakers' marketing exaggeration—their boasts about engine power are treated as fraudulent by literally substituting real horses. The image suggests consumers should be skeptical of manufacturers' performance claims. The signature reads "W.T. Enright." The cartoon likely dates from the early automotive era when horsepower ratings were unregulated and manufacturers made inflated claims about their vehicles' capabilities.