Life, 1923-09-27 · page 4 of 36
Life — September 27, 1923 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **not a cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward advertisement for the Packard Single-Eight automobile, published in *Life* magazine. The ad compares two modern technological achievements: an early airplane (appearing above) and the Packard Single-Eight car (below). The text emphasizes the automobile's innovations in comfort, acceleration, steering, and braking — presenting these as practical improvements over previous models. The "striking thing" being advertised is that Packard achieved superior performance in everyday driving concerns. The ad references the companion "Packard Single-Six" model to establish product range. This represents early 20th-century automotive advertising strategy: positioning a car as equally impressive and forward-thinking as aviation technology, appealing to consumers' appetite for modern innovation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The striking thing about the Single-Eight is that it does the things which are vital, in a more positive, effective way, than they have ever been done before, These striking contributions to safer, surer, smoother motoring, are not hidden PAC A New Produectiore by “KARD- refinements, but very def- inite qualities quickly discernible. It is not just a generaliza- tion but a fact, that in com- fort, acceleration, flexibil- ity, brake-action, steering and ease of control, the Single-Eight has gone far beyond previous practice. The instant and enthusiastic acceptance of these facts renders it certain that the Single-Eight will dominate its own particular field just as unmistakably as does its companion car —the Packard Single-Six. Furnished in Nine Distinguished Body Types, Open and Enclosed, at Prices Ranging from #3650 to #4950—at Detroit Packard Single-Six, $2485 to 3576—at Detroit comicbooks.com