One of Phil Clark’s original Mustang designs. Photo courtesy of Holly Clark.

Original Ford Mustangs, 1980 and older, will motor into St. Ignace this weekend as the Ninth Annual Antiques on the Bay Vintage Car and Truck Show begins two weeks of action for classic and cusom automobile enthusiasts. The first of four 2005 events from Nostalgia Productions, Antiques on the Bay takes place Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18.

The Mustangs will be the featured vehicles for the show. In addition, Wes Myrick, who has been to every St. Ignace show, will come with his 1932 Auburn B/T Speedster. Mike and Jim Simon will display their 1932 Hupmobile, and Glen Reints his 1940 Studebaker.

Instead of a guest of honor this year, organizer Ed Reavie will welcome past guests like Jack Miller and Pinkie Randall, as well as Bob Stevens of Car and Parts Magazine.

The show will feature the influence of Phil Clark on Mustang history. Mr. Clark created the Mustang logo used on the grill of almost the entire run of the Pony car. His daughter, Holly Clark, of Rusk, Texas, is sending historical items related to the car. Mr. Clark died in 1968 when his daughter was just three years old, but years later, she has created a tribute to her father’s work.

“My father was the ultimate car buff,” says Mrs. Clark in “The Man Behind the Pony,” a book she is writing about her father. “He loved the power and freedom that he felt behind the wheel of the muscle cars of the 1950s and 1960s. He designed the Mustang ‘Pony’ emblem and helped design the Mustang I.”

Ms. Clark is ill and cannot attend this year’s show, said Mr. Reavie.

Featured Mustangs will include Howard DeLorme’s one-of-a-kind “Western” Mustang II, the only survivor of prototypes developed in 1976 that never made it to the assembly line, and Marty Mieras’ 1964-1/2 Indianapolis 500 pace car. Others include Mark Spaude’s 1968 Shelby GT350, and R.J. Moore’s 1970 Shelby Mustang GT500.

Registration for participants in the show is Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce. At 4:30 p.m., the Mackinac Bridge Rally will begin, with cars starting at the Welcome Center on South Nicolet Street in Mackinaw City and finishing at the Best Western Harbour Pointe on North State Street in St. Ignace at about 5:15 p.m.

Immediately following will be a parade of vehicles to the Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care facility for a special showing.

Saturday’s display and judging will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Ignace Marina (vehicles may be spread out to the Mackinac Grille and Star Line Dock). Fans can attend the show free of charge.

Additional registration takes place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Brewbaker Trailer at the marina.

Awards will be given at a dinner ceremony at St. Ignace Middle School from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Top 20 overall awards will be presented by Hagerty Insurance, with other awards from Nostalgia Productions.

Mustang Class awards, presented by Mackinac Sales, will include Open and Closed for 1964-1/2 to 1973, then Closed for 1974 to 1980. Special awards will go to Mustang Original (unrestored only) overall, and Best of Show Overall (restored and unrestored), with the former winning a two-night stay at the Best Western Harbour Pointe, and the latter a two-night stay at Grand Hotel.

Antique Automobile Magazine will do a post-show review. Nostalgic artwork from Horsepower Fine Arts will be on display. Antiques on the Bay is sponsored by the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau, Brewbaker’s Housing and R.V., and Kewadin Casinos.