Life, 1926-05-20 · page 43 of 44
Life — May 20, 1926 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is a straightforward **advertisement for the Willys-Knight automobile**, not a political cartoon or satire. The "70" Willys-Knight Six was a real car model being marketed to American consumers. The ad emphasizes the vehicle's technical superiority—its sleeve-valve engine design, power output, and efficiency compared to competitors. The photograph shows the car in a pleasant suburban or small-town setting, suggesting reliability and accessibility for ordinary families. The only noteworthy element for modern readers is the **financing plan mentioned** ("Willys Finance Plan"), indicating that car payments were becoming a normal way to purchase vehicles in this era. This represents mainstream advertising from Life magazine's era, when publications mixed editorial content with advertisements. There is no hidden political message or satirical commentary visible here.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Super-efficiency that challenges all cars! America’s liveliest and most astonish- ing car!... A car whose super-effi- ciency s anything that ever was built of its size, or type, or class! ... No, new creation ever presented to the motoring public of this country has so quickly and completely captured the national imagination as the new “70” Willys-Knight Six! The internationally-famous Knight sleeve-valve engine needs no public endorsement. The unequaled series of world’s records it holds for I sustained speed, continued op at full load, greatest power develop- henomenal new Ounership of thi The new WILLYS FINANCE PL¢ yments; and the low smaller monthly Willys Overland, Inc. Toledo, Ohio ment and hill-climbing in high gear are the four basic tests by which effi- ciency in a motor-car engine is uni- versally measured. In the Knight type sleeve-valve engine of the new “70” Willys-Knight Six, the principle of high-speed engine con- struction has been utilized with results that are absolutely astounding ... With 2}!-inch bore and a 4%-inch stroke, the power-plant of this car de- livers greater power per cubic inch of piston displacement, throughout its entire range, than any stock American motor-car engine built today! serve the night to change f comicbooks.com