A vehicle 10 includes a prime mover engine 15, a drive wheel 16, and a hydrostatic transmission 20. The prime mover engine 15 has a substantially vertical prime mover output shaft 18. The hydrostatic transmission 20 has a hydraulic pump 24 with a substantially vertical pump input shaft 28. A drive link 31 drivingly connects the pump input shaft 28 to the prime mover output shaft 18. The hydraulic motor 25 has a substantially vertical output shaft 30. An interface connector 32 establishes fluid pressure communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor. A gear set is intermediate the hydrostatic transmission 20 and drive wheel 16. The gear set includes a vertically disposed bevel gear 41 drivingly connected to the motor output shaft 30 and a horizontally disposed bevel gear 42 drivingly connected to the drive wheel 16.