Whenever any person dies intestate leaving a surviving spouse, and there is among the assets of decedent's estate an automobile owned by said deceased, said automobile shall be and become the sole and exclusive property of said surviving spouse. If the deceased held title to more than one automobile at the time of death of said deceased, the surviving spouse shall have the right to choose one of said automobiles to be his or her exclusive property and the remaining automobiles shall be distributed according to the laws of descent and distribution. Provided that this section shall in no way release the automobile chosen by the surviving spouse from liability for the debts of the deceased.