Life, 1929-01-04 · page 35 of 36
Life — January 4, 1929 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a straightforward **automobile advertisement** from Life magazine's early 20th century. The page presents Chrysler's new "Imperial" luxury car model as the pinnacle of American engineering. The ad appeals to affluent buyers by emphasizing exclusivity ("for those who have so insistently requested"), superior craftsmanship, and power. The language is reverential ("supreme attainment"), and the car illustration is rendered in formal, dignified style. The crown symbol at the bottom reinforces the "Imperial" branding—suggesting royalty and prestige. The advertisement notes the car will be displayed at major automotive shows in New York and Chicago. This reflects 1920s consumer culture, when automobiles were luxury goods marketed to the wealthy as status symbols. There is no political satire present—merely corporate promotion of a premium product.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PRESENTING THE NEW CHRYSLER New Chrysler-Imperial Custom-built Phacton Supreme Attainment of CHRYSLER Engineering and Craftsmanship To the many thousands of Chrysler enthusiasts who seek the superlative in power and perform~- ance, in size and in richness of investiture, it is our pleasure to present the new Chrysler-Imperial. The Imperial is built for those who have so in- sistently requested a car representative of the ut- most in Chrysler power, smoothness, fineness and beauty. @In it are centered all of the advance~ ments and scientific achievements which Chrysler engineering genius and manufacturing skill have devised. 9 Nothing that highest quality can add has been omitted in its production. It is submitted for your most discriminating examination, in full con- fidence that here is the supreme attainment of Chrysler engineering and craftsmanship. All Chrysler models will be exhibited at the National Automobile Shows; ond at special displays in the Commodore Hotel during the New York Show, Jan. 5th to 12th; and in the Balloon Room and entire lobby space of the Congress Hotel during the Chicago Show, Jon. 26th to Feb. and. comicbooks.com