Pungs-Finch

Information about Pungs-Finch

The Pungs-Finch Auto & Gas Engine Company, an American car manufacturer based in Detroit, Michigan, was operational from 1904 to 1910. Founded by Edward B. Finch, an engineer from the University of Michigan, and his father-in-law William A. Pungs, a carriage builder, the company initially took over the Sintz Gas Engine Company. Their early cars included powerful touring vehicles and marine gas engines which set them apart during the Brass Era of American automobiles.

The duo’s first significant model in 1904 featured a 14-horsepower twin-cylinder engine, soon followed by more robust models with engines up to 8652 cc, reflecting Finch’s bold engineering designs. Notably, their 1906 model, the Finch Limited, was equipped with a sophisticated single overhead camshaft, four-cylinder engine, boasting 50 horsepower and a top speed of 55 mph, which at the time garnered high praise from Henry Ford himself.

Despite their innovative designs and the initial success, the company faced challenges. A significant factory fire in 1905 disrupted their operations, and by 1906, internal disputes led to Finch’s departure. The company shifted focus back to marine engines and ceased car production entirely by 1910. The Finch Limited, a masterpiece of its time, remains a symbol of early American automotive innovation but was never mass-produced beyond a prototype​