re: fwd history

[Dana Loomis <dloomis@mindspring.com>]

In the last issue of the Honda Digest (or was it the FWD Digest?), Scott
Fisher wrote:
>While Sir Alec Issigonis' Mini...was in 1959 the
>first car to use the transverse FWD layout, Honda's use of it in the
>1973 Civic -- the first by a company outside of the British
>Phlegmsucking Leyland oligarchy of dunces -- moved it out of the realm
>of oddball or niche cars (such as Saab, Audi, and Lancia) and into the
>global market.

Perhaps I misread Scott, but neither Saab, Audi or Lancia used a transverse
FWD design.  At least not before Saab was GM, Audi was VW, and Lancia was
Fiat.  All *did* used FWD long before it was the norm, but the engine
layout was longitudinal, not transverse.

Dana Loomis