Tom Tuls stands with his prize-winning car, a 1927 Rolls Royce, Saturday, June 20.

About nine years ago, classic car collector Tom Tuls took a chance and bought a rickety 1927 Rolls Royce Phantom I four-door convertible that was not in drivable condition. He had the goal of restoring the once-luxurious car to show condition and displaying it around the state, but it needed a lot of work.

The car was in such a state of disrepair that it took him a summer's worth of work just to repair the engine enough to get the 82-year-old automobile running again.

"It was a mess," he said. "The convertible top was so brittle, I couldn't put it down; if I would just move it, it would crack. The interior was just terrible, too."

Over the next few years, the car sat mostly untouched in his Holland garage, and was only driven every once in a while. This past spring culminated more than three years of major restoration efforts to the car, which he began in 2005. After about four years of restoration work, his gamble and hard work have finally paid off.

At left: A collection of classic cars parades across the Mackinac Bridge Friday, June 19, at the start of the Antiques on the Bay car show in St. Ignace.

Mr. Tuls and his wife, Donna, have entered the car into three car shows so far this year and won Best in Show awards at all three, most recently the 13th Annual Antiques on the Bay vintage car show in St. Ignace Saturday, June 20. The couple also won top honors at classic car shows in Holland and Big Rapids earlier this spring.

"Normally, my wife and I will take a couple weekends out of the year and go to car shows. We have been in three car shows [with the Rolls Royce] and gotten three first places. We don't get into a lot of car shows, but it's fun when we do," he said.

Mr. Tuls has bought and restored classic cars out of a small workshop in his garage for many years. He did most of the restoration work to the Rolls Royce himself, only using professional help to replace the brittle convertible top, worn upholstery, and work to the exterior body. He also had it professionally painted a glossy, deep forest green.

At right: Visitors look at a collection of early-century Ford Model T and Model A cars at the Antiques on the Bay show in St. Ignace. Nineteen Model T and Model A cars were entered into the show last weekend.

The couple also owns a 1927 Ford Model T roadster, two 1932 Packards, a 1965 Corvette convertible, a 1965 Impala SS, and a 1972 Mercedes 350-SL convertible.

"I have always liked old cars. Anything with four wheels and a motor, I'm usually pretty interested in," he said. "I like to take the cars apart, redo a lot of the mechanical things, and then I reassemble them myself, too."

The Best of Show award at the classic car show also came with a two-night stay at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Mr. and Mrs. Tuls, who visited the Island the day before the show, said they will likely return to the Island to use the free stay later this summer.

Mr. Tuls said there is a "better than average chance" he and his wife will return to the antique auto show next year, but will likely display a different car, probably the 1932 Packard coupe.

A 1934 General St. Louis Fire Truck sits on display during the 13th Annual Antiques on the Bay vintage car show in St. Ignace Saturday, June 20. Named in the Hagerty Insurance Top 20 Picks, it is owned by Brad George of Alanson.

"Not many people have seen that one finished, unless they've come to my garage," he said. "I think it's more interesting for car shows to bring something different every year."

Two early-century Rolls Royce automobiles were displayed at the show last weekend. The other featured Rolls Royce, a 1919 model, belongs to Charles Puttkammer of Mackinac Island.

Ed Reavie, organizer of the St. Ignace classic car show, said it is a rarity to see one fully-restored vintage Rolls Royce at a car show, let alone two.

"I don't think St. Ignace has ever had two Rolls Royce cars here at the same time. It's amazing," he said. "I wonder what it must have been like when the owner bought that car brand new in 1927 and brought it home. Can you imagine the neighborhood turnout when that car pulled into the driveway? It's an incredible car; just a magnificent piece of work."

A 1975 battery-powered Vanguard Citicar is displayed during the 13th Annual Antiques on the Bay vintage car show in St. Ignace Saturday, June 20. The batteries in this car allow for about 35 miles of travel at a speed up to 35 miles per hour. John Wissink steers his 1923 Buick Moxie down State Street Friday, June 19. The Moxie soft drink company once used these vehicles as to promote its product.