Life — December 20, 1929 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a **Buick automobile advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. The page presents a marketing argument: given similar purchase prices, why buy one expensive car when two moderately-priced Buicks offer greater practicality? The advertisement addresses a specific consumer concern of the era—the growing need for multiple vehicles in American families. It appeals to middle-class buyers by positioning two Buicks as a smarter investment than one luxury automobile, promising superior "happiness," "prestige," and "convenience." The photograph shows a well-dressed family examining a Buick, reinforcing aspirational messaging. The tagline—"When better automobiles are built... Buick will build them"—was Buick's actual slogan. This reflects post-WWI American car-buying trends and the rise of multi-car household ownership.