Life, 1924-12-18 · page 4 of 37
Life — December 18, 1924 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Packard automobile advertisement**, not political satire. The ad targets two distinct buyer types: 1. **Budget-conscious buyers** who replace cheaper cars frequently 2. **Wealthy buyers** who purchase heavy, complex vehicles less often The advertisement's central argument is economic: a Packard Six's annual depreciation costs no more than constantly replacing cheaper cars, while offering superior operating costs and maintenance. The tagline "Only Packard can build a Packard" emphasizes exclusivity. The illustration shows two well-dressed men examining a Packard sedan outside a classical building, positioning the car as aspirational and prestigious. The ad concludes "Ask the man who owns one"—a famous Packard marketing slogan. This reflects 1920s-era luxury car marketing targeting upper-middle-class professionals.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
can afford to buy the Packard Six— the man who is buying a half-price, half- quality, half-life car every year or two and, the man who is buying a heavy, bulky, com- plicated car less often. The depreciation cost per year of the long- life Packard Six will be no more. The operating and maintenance costs will be much less. And— The Packard Six will give the added advan- tages of Packard beauty, distinction, and comfort. Pahang sit hers ne Damen Packers Meiremety tiered tiberal mthly payment plan makes possibletheimmediate en ofa Packard, purchasing out of income instead of capital, ASK THE MAN WHO OWNS ONE comicbooks.com