The 375 horsepower engine on the 1961 Chrysler 300G brought by Lauren and Kathy Lampi of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, to Antiques on the Bay. The four red ram induction barrels shown connecting to the two carburetors was a design pioneered for the first time. The sign above the engine says at the time the car was the “fastest, most powerful American production car,” reaching a speed of 143 miles per hour at Daytona Beach. Rows of shiny, fine-tuned classic cars lined the St. Ignace Marina parking lot Saturday, June 19, at the 14th annual Antiques on the Bay show hosted by Nostalgia Productions, giving participants the chance to take a trip down memory lane and forget about modern cars for awhile.

And with 77 timeless antiques on display, there was plenty of nostalgia in the air for car enthusiasts to fill the entire afternoon. The 80-degree weather didn't hurt the cause, either, said show organizer Ed Reavie of St. Ignace.

Above: This rare 1946 Mercury Sportsman Convertible owned by Bill Large of Washington, Michigan, was honored with the “Best of Show” award . (Photograph courtesy of Bob Stevens, editor of Cars & Parts Magazine) “Considering there were four

other shows going on within 100 miles, there was a lot of spectator traffic [here]. Everybody was enjoying the gorgeous, sunny day, and they stayed until the end,” he said.

While all of the cars on exhibit were considered antiques -- 1985 or older by requirement -- this year's lineup featured several antiques that would have merited the trip by themselves. Award winners included a 1946 Mercury Convertible owned by Bill Large of Washington, Michigan, Best of Show; a 1961 Chrysler 300-G owned by Lauren Lampi of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, First Place Hagerty Insurance award; and a 1981 Concord Sundance Convertible owned by Don Hendrickson of Gladstone, First Place Nostalgia Productions award.

Center, right: Don and Betty Hendrickson of Gladstone sit in their 1981 Concord Sundancer Convertible at the Antiques on the Bay car show Saturday, June 19, at St. Ignace Marina. With fewer than 200 convertibles manufactured that year, and only 17 still on the streets today, the car was arguably the rarest antique at the show. It won the Nostalgia Productions first place award. Mr. Lampi and his wife, Kathy, drove their 1961 300-G upward of 500 miles from Minnesota to attend the event. In awe of its credentials, spectators encircled the car throughout the afternoon. It was the fastest American-made car built in 1961, and only 445 out of the 1,250 manufactured remain today.

The top manufacturers used to test the speeds of their cars at Daytona Beach, Florida. The 300-G boasted the best speed in 1961, topping out at 143 miles per hour.

“They had what was called the 'flying mile' in Daytona,” he explained. “They went out and raced the cars on the sand when it was as hard as concrete.”

Bottom, right: Harold Mitchell of Sault Ste. Marie (left), with his brother, Richard, is standing in front of his red 1960 Shelby GT at Antiques on the Bay. He said the car, which he's been bringing to Antiques on the Bay since its inception 14 years ago, is the “first true Shelby,” adding that only 2,048 were produced in 1960. Underneath the hood, the first thing catching the eye of bystanders was the 375 horsepower engine's two four-barrel carburetors connected to red induction bars -- a rare design unique to the vehicle. Although the engine of the car is now in excellent condition with high performance parts, Mr. Lampi, a dentist for 44 years before retiring two years ago, said he rebuilt the engine himself as a hobby, a project that took him several years to complete.

Participating in Antiques on the Bay for the first time, Dennis Broersma of Grand Rapids stands in front of his 1932 Chevrolet Coupe. He said he fell in love with the car, which he bought in Florida two years ago, as a 10 year old. “In '32 they called it the baby Cadillac,” he said, adding that the hood doors on the engine were a new feature at the time. His work on the project was set back by a fluke accident involving a boat crashing into his garage, a story he shared with spectators at the show. Rebuilding the engine in his garage, he had taken a break to go canoeing at a nearby pond. When he returned to work on his car, he was taken aback at the spectacle that greeted his eyes.

“This guy was bringing his boat down the highway,” he explained, “and the trailer popped off the ball, which didn't have the safety chain on. The boat comes off the trailer, crashes into my garage, and hits the car square in the license plate.”

Don and Cathy Marx of Presque Isle, who've been attending Antiques on the Bay in St. Ignace for several years, in front of their bright red 1954 Crestline Sunliner at the St. Ignace Marina Saturday. Mr. Marx said the car was “severely sun-cooked” when he purchased it in Arizona eight years ago, but that after a fresh coat of paint and several repairs, the car looks like it's just been picked up from a dealership in the '50s. Stationed on jack stands, the car screeched 30 inches on the concrete floor as a result of the collision, bashing into the garage wall. The entire frame was bent, but that didn't deter Mr. Lampi from finishing the project.

Enjoying his new lifestyle as a retiree, Mr. Lampi said he and his wife intend to come to the show for years to come.

“It's a very unique location,” he said of the bayside setting for the event. “We want to come back next year.”

Brad George of Alanson (left) is pictured standing in front of his classic 24-foot, 10,000-pound, 1934 General Motors firetruck with his brother, Rick, from Holland, who had a 1931 Chevrolet Coupe on display. The two antique owners were among 77 with cars on display at Antiques on the Bay. Still fully functional, the firetruck has the capacity of spraying 7,500 gallons per minute, Mr. George said. Mr. Hendrickson and his wife, Betty, who were at the first Antiques on the Bay show 14 years ago, brought their 1981 AMC Concord Sundancer for the first time, one of fewer than 200 vehicles of its kind manufactured, and with only 17 still on the streets today.

Arguably the rarest antique at the show, the custom convertibles were built for a year by Griffin Industries, a small auto shop in Jacksonville, Florida. The owners paid $3,975 on top of the asking price to have the car shipped to Jacksonville and back to the dealership in Kenosha, he said.

TOP DOG: Bob Terry of Grayling, with his goldendoodle, Duke, in tow, featured his 1915 Ames Ford race car at Antiques on the Bay Saturday, June 19, at the St. Ignace Marina. In addition to the car winning a third place Hagerty Insurance award, the dog was honored with the “Best of Show Dog” award, which was given away for the first year. More show photographs, pages 12, 14 “No convertibles were built in those years,” he explained. “Cadillac built their last one in 1976, and there was a break where no one built any until 1984.”

Since AMC cars are being featured at the show this year, Mr. Hendrickson said he was asked by Mr. Reavie to have the car featured here, and that he was honored to oblige. Antiques on the Bay has always been his favorite show, he said.

TOP SPEED ON THE ‘FLYING MILE:’ Lauren and Kathy Lampi of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, traveled more than 500 miles to bring their 1961 Chrysler 300G to Antiques on the Bay at the St. Ignace Marina for the first time Saturday, June 19. Equipped with a 375-horsepower engine, the car was the fastest American vehicle made in 1961, recording a speed of 143 miles per hour on Daytona Beach's “flying mile.” “I like restored cars better than street rods,” he said. “There aren't many shows that are strictly for collectors anymore.”

Another rarity, a red, white-pinstriped 1960 Shelby GT 350 Mustang came to the show, displayed by Harold Mitchell of Sault Ste. Marie. He's exhibited at the show every year since its inception 14 years ago. The first true Shelby ever produced, he says, only 2,048 of them were manufactured in 1960. They were built in an airport hangar plant in San Jose, California, and shipped to buyers from an airport in Los Angeles. The car finished sixth place overall in the competition. 2010 Antiques on the Bay Show Results

Special awards:

Best of Show: Bill Large, Washington, 1946 Mercury Sportsman Convertible

Best Feature Vehicle: Lawrence Jandrin, Kewanee, Wisconsin, 1974 Javalin

Mackinac Sales Best Ford Product: Eugene Selden, Belair, 1963 Thunderbird

Mayor's Choice Car: Vince Rosso, Soo, 1954 Chevrolet

Mayor's Choice Truck: Jerry Boomstra, Jenison, 1952 Ford Pickup

The top 20 Hagerty Insurance Award winners:

Lauren Lampi, 1961 300-G (1); Richard Newhouse, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, 1955 Ford (2); Bob Terry, Gladstone, 1915 Ames Ford Race Car (3); Larry Oestreich, St. Ignace, 1958 Roadster (4); John Atsuma, Grand Rapids, 1966 Corvette (5); Harold Mitchell, Soo, 1967 Shelby GT-350 (6); Ron Brooks, Twin Lakes, 1949 Cadillac (7); Stuart Gailbrath, Hessel, 1932 Chevrolet (8); Gerald Kamyszek, Cedarville, 1950 Chevrolet (9); Geroge Farley, Ferndale, 1969 Pontiac (10); Kirk Brandt, St. Ignace, 1964 Pontiac (11); Don Harbron, Midland, 1936 Chevrolet (12); Tim Ettenhoffen, Bagget, 1925 Model T (13); Clyde Doll, Holland, 1930 Chrysler (14); Dick Chambers, Holland, 1929 Model A (15); Chucklaugh Baum, Pellston, 1966 Oldsmobile (16); Brad George, Alanson, 1934 General (17); John Baurer, Rockford, 1962 Cadillac (18); Bob Fitzgerald, Traverse City, 1930 Ford (19); Dave and Linda Malone, Montrose, 1948 Reo (20).

Nostalgia Productions Awards:

Don Hendrickson, Gladstone, 1981 Concord Sundancer (1); Tom West, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 1965 Chevrolet (2); David Knowles, Soo, 1966 Rambler (3); Larry Jandrin, Kewana, 1965 Rambler (4); Henry Redder, Petoskey, 1963 Pontiac (5); Don Marx, Presque Isle, 1954 Ford (6).