Life, 1926-02-11 · page 6 of 40
Life — February 11, 1926 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **Packard automobile advertisement**, not political satire. The page uses diplomatic prestige to market luxury cars. The ad's central conceit: prominent diplomats representing the U.S. at foreign courts have chosen Packard vehicles, suggesting that ambassadors—people whose mission requires maintaining national dignity—would select Packards as "keeping with the importance of their missions." Specific references include Packard Six automobiles appearing at the Court of Saint James's (Britain) and Packard Eight at the Palais de l'Élysée (France's presidential palace). The illustration shows an elegant sedan outside a grand governmental building. The tagline "Ask The Man Who Owns One" was Packard's famous slogan. This leverages diplomatic authority to imply the brand embodies "beauty, distinction and dependability."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Those who are selected to repre- sent this country at the courts of the great capitals must in turn select the things which will be in keeping with the importance of their missions. Ten prominent diplomats have recently chosen Packard cars as affording that distinction so neces- sary to their activities. In England, a Packard Six has appeared at the Court of Saint James’s; while in France, an Eight has stood, an object of beauty, at the gates of the Palais de VElysée. In either Six or Eight is found the full measure of Packard beauty, Packard distinction and Packard dependability. PACKARD Ask The Man Who Owns One