1958 Buick Limited

If any automobile captured the absolute crest of Detroit's chrome obsession, it was the 1958 Buick Limited. Conceived under styling chief Harley Earl as the ultimate expression of General Motors' golden anniversary year, the Limited wore more brightwork than almost any production car in history. Its centerpiece was the Fashion-Aire Dynastar grille, a dazzling wall of 160 faceted chrome squares engineered to shimmer in the sun. Along the rear flanks, massive ribbed chrome sweeps accentuated a body stretching nearly 228 inches. Powered by a 364-cubic-inch Nailhead V8 delivering 300 horsepower, the Limited remains the definitive monument to mid-century automotive opulence.