1906 Pungs-Finch Limited Tourer

In 1906, the Pungs-Finch Auto and Gas Engine Co., of Detroit, introduced their 'Limited' Touring car with the boast that it 'could go anywhere at any speed with distinction not exceeded by that of any self-propelled vehicle for use on common roads.' Indeed, with its massive 650 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine which had a 5.75-inch bore and a staggering 6.25-inch stroke, there were few, if any cars on the road that could match it for sheer displacement. In a day when 'pulling a hill' in high gear was the ultimate measure of a car's strength, there were few that could match this monster. In addition, during its first test run, Pungs-Finch Limited managed to average over 55 mph, even though it was only running on three cylinders at the time.

W.A. Pungs and his son-in-law E.B. Finch created a company known as Pungs-Finch. Pungs provided the financial backing while Finch had the training and engineering skill. Finch had attended the University of Michigan and built an experimental automobile in 1902. In 1904, the two bought out the Stintz Gas Engine in downtown Detroit.

In 1906, this Pungs-Finch automobile was built and dubbed the Limited. Power was from a very large four-cylinder engine displacing nearly 600 cubic inches. It had an exposed, overhead camshaft that crossed on top of each of the individually cast cylinders. There were hemispherical combustion chambers in shape with angled valves. This may be the first true 'Hemi' powered engine ever designed and built in America.

The company guaranteed the car could travel at least 55 miles per hour, an impressive accomplishment in the early 1900s. Reportedly, Henry Ford told Pungs it was the finest car he had ever seen. Shortly after completing this car, Pungs and Finch had a falling out and Finch left the partnership in order to become a Chalmers-Detroit dealer in Cleveland.

There is only one Pungs-Finch car known to exist, and it is this 1906 Limited model. It was discovered and owned for many years by the noted automobile historian Henry Austin Clark Jr. and was displayed in his museum. It remained in Clark's collection until 1979 and then was donated to the San Antonio Museum of Transpiration, which brought it to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1981, where it won the Charles Chayne Trophy. The museum had it on display until 1994. It was then acquired by Jan Voboril, of California, from who the present owner acquired it. In its current ownership, the car has been treated to a restoration by Classic & Exotic Service of Troy, Michigan. The original wooden touring body was recreated, and a correct brass radiator was fabricated to its original form.

In 2008, the car was displayed at Pebble Beach and then shown at the 2009 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, winning the Restoration Award.