Not to derail the OP, but what about the station wagons cousin, the Ute? Basically an estate/station wagon without the back seats like the Holden
or the Ford?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/2005-2006_Ford_BF_Falcon_Ute_XR6_Turbo.jpg
aka, an el camino.
Yep. The idea has been around for a while, only really popular on the upside-down part of the world. (I think they’d do well if they brought them back to the US now, but no one seems to agree)
I wish they’d bring the Ranchero and/or El Camino back to the US. I moved a refrigerator(a big one) once in a 1968 Ranchero. It was very practical.
Edit: Wait! when Automation comes out I won’t have to wish anymore. I can do it myself 
Yeah I never got why the ute style pickup never caught on in North America (I do realize that they where made there for almost 30 years.), surely most people don’t actually need the high ground clearance, and in return you get better handling, more comfort, a lighter vehicle and of course a lower loading edge.
If I look at the pickups that are actually used as work vehicles here one off the most popular cars in the older Mazdas which are also the lowest that have been sold here in decent numbers.
I guess normal people just really like the high seating position … 
[quote=“T16”]Yeah I never got why the ute style pickup never caught on in North America (I do realize that they where made there for almost 30 years.), surely most people don’t actually need the high ground clearance, and in return you get better handling, more comfort, a lighter vehicle and of course a lower loading edge.
If I look at the pickups that are actually used as work vehicles here one off the most popular cars in the older Mazdas which are also the lowest that have been sold here in decent numbers.
I guess normal people just really like the high seating position … [/quote]
For the same reason people in NA liked big ostentatious SUV’s before the rise of CUV’s. While some people did us it for it’s intended utility, most people who bought the high riding truck didn’t really need it for it’s intended purpose (except for the occasional move/helping someone move). It’s all about the image.
At the same time we had a plethora of station wagons everywhere in the 80’s so that kind of filled the gap.
Necro posting this one. Because I love wagons. (My fellow americans think I am odd)
Volvo 850R
http://www.carlustblog.com/images/2008/02/22/8503.jpg
'59 Chevy Brookwood wagon
Chevy Bel Air “Nomad”
'64 Ford Galaxie “Country Squire” Wagon
Ford Falcon Wagon
Some more station wagons:
Audi RS6 Avant: 1.bp.blogspot.com/_JdCKfzHN9Mw/T … +avant.jpg
Alfa Romeo 159 SW: static.qnm.it/www/fotogallery/64 … imenti.jpg
Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon GTA
FIAT Croma: cuboauto.it/gallery/131/1897 … 07-001.jpg
BMW M5 Touring: bmwcoop.com/wp-content/image … ouring.jpg
Mercedes E Class SW: put.edidomus.it/auto/mondoauto/a … _sw_a1.jpg
I think Estate is used in the US, cause my 1980 Buick Century, is a station wagon, so the full name of the car is Buick Century Estate Wagon.
That is the 1st time I have heard it used on an American car, Interesting.