Abstract: A straight drive shaft type engine mounted transversely of a vehicle is provided with a centrally bored drive shaft surrounding a wheel axle having a wheel connected with its respective remote ends. A primary clutch moves a friction disk slip-spline mounted on the axle into driving engagement with a flange on one end of the drive shaft for rotating the axle at the speed of and in the direction of engine drive shaft rotation. A secondary clutch, to be engaged when the primary clutch is disengaged, moves a driving gear into friction engagement with a second flange mounted on the other end portion of the engine drive shaft to connect a transmission with the axle for gear driving or moving the vehicle in reverse.