(Words and photos by Doug Gregory) – Next up in our coverage of this massive event are some cars from the 50s and 60s-ish eras.  These were times of changing styles, but we can all agree few of these cars had an abundance of the style absent from today’s machines.  Chrome, protruding door handles, wing windows (who doesn’t like those), hood ornaments, and seats akin to your living room couch.

The term ‘shoebox’ is often applied to many 50s cars which I think is a compliment compared to the ‘bubble’ cars of modernity.  There was also a hefty dose of individuality across manufacturers – it existed to a great extent within the same parent companies.  Drivetrain components varied as much as the size and shapes of the bumpers.  Quite often these cars are comfortable cruisers and customs with coolness oozing from their distinctive shapes.  We gave the tri-5 Chevy crowd a hall-pass on this category because most folks see them a bit differently from this crowd.

Enjoy this gallery of curves, lines, and times when chrome was an essential element in vehicle appearance.