In 1909 Walter Christie unveiled his last two automobile projects, the Racer previously mentioned and a Taxi. The Taxi was of course front wheel drive, but it had many changes from Christie's 1904 direct drive patent. So many changes that Christie was granted a new patent for the Taxi. The patent drawing below shows a very modern transverse, four cylinder engine, with a separate transmission and conventional differential unit. Christie used his normal coil spring independent front suspension. Long drive axles took the power to Christie's patented demountable rim wheels. If constant velocity u-joints had been available back then, he might have had a winner. It took another 50years for the Austin MINI to appear and really begin the modern change to front wheel drive automobiles.
The above photo of the Taxi body was discovered by Lee Stohr at the NAHC in the Detroit Public Library.
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