Technical Vintage transaxle?

Does the teardrop shape you have in mind have enough width to have the engine offset to the right, with the transaxle bolted to the left? The whole assembly might be about 35" wide.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/chauvin-emmons-indy-influence.355090/page-2
The article says it is direct drive into the quickchange with 4.90 gears. The quickchange looks a little long to me, so I'm going to guess it is a 2 speed that Halibrand made a few of.

 

Since you're talking a 4 cylinder you won't be handling huge HP or Torque.

Look at European vehicles from the 30's to 70's.

Citroen had inline engine transmissions in FWD configurations.

Renault had similar, but rear engined, in the Dauphine and the Gordini variation, which had a 4 speed transmission.

DKW also had front engine front wheel drive as far back as 1932.