Plenty of front

Michael Milne tells us (Classic shrines, September) that ‘The Ruxton prototype was the first attempt at a front-wheel-drive vehicle in the US’. However, beginning in c1904, J Walter Christie hoped to popularise front-wheel drive by building racing cars with transverse V4 engines.

I must also dispute that the Ruxton’s layout was identical to the Oldsmobile Toronado. The Olds had its diff located beside the middle of its sump; the Ruxton’s was at the front of a back-to-front in-line engine, like the L-29 Cord. Will Owen

Pasadena, CA, USA