Life, 1923-03-08 · page 3 of 37
Life — March 8, 1923 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon or satire**—it's a straightforward automobile advertisement from Life magazine's early 20th century period. The page advertises the **Chandler Motor Car Company's new "Pikes Peak Motor,"** built for the Chandler Six automobile. The central image shows a motorcar positioned dramatically against a mountain backdrop (Pikes Peak), emphasizing the vehicle's power and capability. The advertisement claims the motor gained "national acceptance as one of the truly great power plants" within two months of announcement. It highlights engineering achievements: overcoming "pre-ignition knock," heating problems, and combustion issues that plagued competitors. The appeal is straightforward: superior engineering equals reliability for "the hardest hill or the smartest traffic." This reflects early automotive marketing's focus on mechanical performance rather than style.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘AReally Great Power Plant! | =, BUILT BY CHANDLER THIN two months of its announcement, the phenomenal Pikes Peak motor gained national acceptance as one of the truly great power plants. In its sensational final tests at Pikes Peak, it clearly demonstrated a power and performance margin without precedent in the fine car field. In attaining its perfected design, Chandler engineers overcame three faults conspicuous in many motors: Pre-ignition knock or “Pang. heat- ing, and imperfect combustion. As a result, it possesses virility and responsiveness more than ample for the hardest hill or the snarliest traffic. To appreciate the oopeeneny of the new Pikes Peak motor, you must ride in a new Chandler car. At the same time you will be struck by the beauty of the new bodies and the marked value established by the new low prices. Touring Car (5 Pass.) $1395 | Touring Car (7 Pass) $1545 Four Pass. Roadster $1595 Royal Dispatch $1695 Cinammy Sedan $1695 Metopolizan Sedan $2193" Seven Passenger Sedan $2295 All Prices F.O.B. Cleveland THE CHANDLER MOTOR CAR COMPANY . CLEVELAND Export Department: 1819 Broadway, New York City Cable Address: “CHANMOTOR” comicbooks.com