Life, 1928-10-05 · page 47 of 48
Life — October 5, 1928 — page 47: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a satirical cartoon** but a **automobile advertisement** for the Willys-Knight Standard Six, published in 1928. The page advertises a mid-range sedan priced at $1,095, positioning it as exceptional value—"the year's outstanding value." The illustration shows well-dressed men examining the vehicle, conveying aspirational status and reliability. The ad emphasizes the car's "patented double sleeve-valve engine," smooth performance, and low price relative to quality. It notes 325,000 owners and claims the 1928 model was "Willys-Knight's biggest year." **For modern readers:** This reflects pre-Depression prosperity marketing, when automobiles represented middle-class achievement. The formal dress and gentleman-customer focus reflects 1920s consumer culture. The emphasis on "freedom from carbon troubles" reflects genuine mechanical concerns of early automobiles. This is straightforward advertising, not satire or political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
XPERIENCED motorists who know the smoothness, flashing activity, silent power and rugged stamina of the patented double sleeve-valve engine are quick to acknowledge the Willys-Knight Standard Six as the year's greatest value. Q At the lowest price in his- tory, Willys-Knight’s beauty of design and superiority of performance are now enjoyed by thousands of new owners. @ The sweep- ing success of the Standard Six has made 1928 Willys-Knight’s biggest year. Quality was never as high—prices were never as low —sales were never as great. Q Most emphati- cally, it will be well worth your while to give the Standard Six your closest inspection. And the more exacting your scrutiny, the greater will be your appreciation that this beautiful car po es everything that wins you to a fine Six—from the fundamentals of design and construction to the smallest details of ap- pointment. @ A demonstration of the Stand- ard Six reveals the ease of control, quick starting, comfortable riding and sustained brilliance which have won the praise of more 5 PASSENGER SEDAN ‘1O95 COACH... $995 i, TOURING “995 ROADSTER ~995 COUPE... 1045 than 325,000 enthusiastic Willys-Knight own- ers. And years of service—with remarkable freedom from carbon troubles and repairs— will bring you a new conception of the economy with which a truly fine car may be operated. Prices f. 0. b. Toledo, O., and specifications subject to change without notice. Willys-Overland, Inc., Toledo, O., Willys-Overland Sales Company, Ltd., Toronto, Can. SWILLYS + KNIGHT SIX. comicbooks.com