Life, 1925-05-07 · page 6 of 44
Life — May 7, 1925 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **Packard automobile advertisement**, not political satire. The page showcases the Packard Six sedan with marketing claims about owner loyalty and durability. The image depicts a luxury automobile silhouetted against a European landscape (suggested by the mountainous backdrop and balconied building), emphasizing the car's sophisticated appeal. The text's main argument: Packard owners keep their cars exceptionally long—90% retain theirs three+ years, 75% keep them four+ years, and 60% keep them five or more years. One in seven owners expects to keep theirs ten years. The advertisement cites Wilkes-Barre, PA and Youngstown, Ohio as examples where retention rates are particularly high (197 of 200 cars still owned). The tagline "Ask the man who owns one" was Packard's actual advertising slogan, emphasizing owner satisfaction as proof of quality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“A TALE OF TWO CITIES”—OR A HUNDRED HE average Packard Six owner ex- pects to keep his car nearly three times as long as the car he traded in. Records compiled during the last six months show that 90% of Packard own- ers expect to keep their cars three years or more—75% four years or more, and 60% five years or more. Every seventh Packard Six owner expects to keep his car ten years. The Packard owner does more than expect to keep his car—he keeps it. For example, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., a city of 77,000 population, Packard Six cars have been sold to 215 owners during the past five years. Two hundred and twelve of the 215 still have Packard cars—their original cars, except where enclosed or larger ones were desired. In Youngstown, Ohio the record is 197 out of 200. In the Packard Six, beauty, distinction, comfort and pride of possession are most liberally combined with long life and economy of operating and maintenance charges. The Packard Six and the Packard Eight both are furnished in ten body types, four open and six enclosed. A liberal monthly payment plan makes possible the immediate enjoyment of a Packard, purchasing owt of income instead of capital. PACKARD comicbooks.com