Life — May 17, 1928 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is **not a cartoon or satire page** — it's a straightforward **automobile advertisement** for Rolls-Royce, appearing in *Life* magazine. The ad features a photograph of a Phaeton model car priced at $8,500. The sales pitch emphasizes that this particular vehicle is "newly painted" with "new-car guarantee still in force," positioning it as nearly equivalent to purchasing new while costing "much less" than the full list price. The text argues this represents an exceptional value: a Rolls-Royce offering "comfort and freedom from mechanical imperfections" at a bargain. The ad concludes with contact information for Rolls-Royce showrooms across major American cities. This reflects the luxury automobile market of the era, targeting wealthy buyers seeking prestige vehicles at discounted prices.