THF107841

Advertisement, Oakland Motor Company, "Oakland Sensible Six-- the Practical Car For You, As Sturdy as the Oak," 1917

Summary

The automobile is a paradox -- a practical tool that plays host to both human needs and fantasies. Like car consumers, automotive ads seem to land somewhere between fantasy and reality, emotions and rationality. Many ads incorporate apparent opposites: fantasy can sell practicality, and vice versa. Sometimes the car has disappeared completely -- an emotional appeal prompts us to complete the ad.

Artifact

Date Made

14 April 1917

Subject Date

1917

Creators

Oakland Motor Car Company

Place of Creation

United States, Michigan, Pontiac

Keywords

Collection Title

Automotive (Non-Ford) Advertisements Collection

On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

64.167.657.826

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Printing (Process)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 14.125 in

Width: 10.625 in

Inscriptions

The text reads, in part: Up any hills-- over any roads-- the Oakland Sensible Six -- / $875-- will take you with ease, comfort and economy. It's a big car / ... / and its long, semi-elliptic springs, over-size tires and long wheelbase. /... /give the Sensible six that / easy riding quality which wins the enthusiastic praise of owners everywhere. The valve-in-head motor develops 41 h.p. at 2500 rpm / ... / On the / hills or in bad going the Sensible Six has more actual power and / more proportionate power than any other car of its weight. This power with light weight means fuel and tire economy / ...18 to 25 mpg, and from 8,000 to 12,000 miles per set of tires....