самому стало интересно почему так )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estate_car
много интересного пишут )
цитата
In the United Kingdom, station wagons are generally called estate cars or usually just estates. A very specific type, though very rare, is known as a shooting-brake. These are usually modified luxury coupés with an estate car-like back fitted. They generally retain two side doors. The purpose of them, historically, is obvious from the name; they were vehicles for the well-off shooter and hunter, giving space to carry shotguns and other equipment. They have rarely been made by the factory and are generally aftermarket conversions; some are still made. Until the early 1960s many of them were built with structural wooden rear frames, making them some of the most exclusive and luxurious "woodies" ever built.
смысл вроде такой - что типа так называли машины для охотников где было удобно перевозить ружья и всякую видимо недвижимость )))