Life, 1928-10-05 · page 2 of 48
Life — October 5, 1928 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward automobile advertisement for the Marmon Motor Car Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. The ad promotes Marmon's new "straight-eight" engine models (Series 68 and 78), emphasizing that eight cylinders no longer cost significantly more than six-cylinder vehicles. The illustration shows a 1920s Victoria Coupe displayed at what appears to be an airfield, with period-dressed figures and aircraft in the background — imagery meant to convey modernity, sophistication, and progress. The copy argues that buyers can now afford high-performance, smooth-running eight-cylinder cars at prices comparable to cheaper six-cylinder alternatives, positioning Marmon as offering "fine transportation" at modest cost. This is purely commercial advertising with no satirical or political content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
[nder COM 110 No/e New Series Marmon 68 Victoria Coupe, for four passengers NEW SERIES Everybody is going to want an eight —z~ There's an entirely different feel to the throttle—smoothness, flex- ibility and reserve power which can be delivered only by putting more cylinders to work —s— Of course everyone appreciates an eight—but does everyone know that Marmon now offers two straight-eights at the prices of many of the sixes? —*— To drive these great new Marmon straight-eights is to get an entirely different interpretation of what a motor car can really do— also to get a new idea of what modest money it now takes to purchase really fine transportation —s— The New Series 68, $1465. The New Series 78, $1965, All prices f. 0. b. factory. De luxe equipment extra. Marmon Motor Car Co., Indianapolis, Ind. comicbooks.com