Life, 1925-08-27 · page 4 of 36
Life — August 27, 1925 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **Packard automobile advertisement**, not political satire. The page shows a luxury sedan positioned beside a scenic riverside estate, designed to appeal to wealthy buyers. The ad's messaging targets affluent consumers by emphasizing customization: buyers can select from pre-made color and upholstery combinations, or specify entirely custom options. This positions Packard as a luxury brand catering to individualistic, discerning customers. The phrase "Ask the Man Who Owns One" (visible at top) was Packard's actual advertising slogan, suggesting reliability through owner testimony. The small text notes Packard offers ten body types in both open and enclosed versions, and welcomes buyers preferring installment purchases over capital outlay—indicating this targets the wealthy but expanding middle class of the 1920s-30s era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
»> LIFE ASK THE MAN WHO OWNS ONE The Packard Eight Seven-passenger Sedan is illustrated —five thousand Your Choice of Color and Upholstery Although few would think of chang- ing the grace of line of the Packard Eight, there are many who desire to express their own ideas in color and upholstery. For these Packard offers two options. First—to select from numerous com: binations, artistically created and ready for early delivery. Second —to specify anything obtain- able in beautiful colors and fine fabrics, with due allowance for the time necessary to produce. Packard feels complimented that the great majority are pleased to take the Packard Eight in standard paint and trim but realizes there are always those who want the unusual. These, every Packard man stands ready to serve. Packard Six and Packard Eight both are furnished in ten body types, four open and six enclosed. Packard dis- tributers and dealers welcome the buyer who prefers to purchase his Packard out of income instead of capital. PACKARD comicbooks.com