The message
from Grimly Curmudgeon contains these words:

I think it was the mini.

You think wrong.

Alvis made them in 1928 - a racing model first followed by a road car.
Then of course the famous Citroen Traction Avant - 1934 onwards.

Probably other earlier FWD - but those are the landmarks.

FIAT made a small fwd car in about 1929. It was probably the first
popular (or not, depending on reliability) fwd. Can't recall the model
name, though.

Apologies if this is repeat information but my message last night has
yet to appear on zetnet's news server.

The 1931 DKW had both transverse engine and FWD. Likewise the postwar Saab 92.

--
Roger Chapman