[TartanJack]

I was looking up info on something else, and this British pair built by the Rootes Group in the late-1950s/60s got my attention.
http://www.philseed.com/hmhusky.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillman_Husky

Besides the obvious "compact wagon"/van similarities, one feature stood out:

(Taken from Husky brochure and images combined by me)

Looks a bit like the way our seats work, plus the size and capacity is similar.  Ours is a bit longer overall, thanks to 21st century safety standards, but not as much as one would think.

I just found that interesting.  Those who are making "retro" xB2s now have a great "basis" for ideas.  There are a number of detail similarities.

 

[TartanJack]

Google-located images:

The later (Imp-based) generation of the Husky:

http://www.imps4ever.info/family/husky.html

Dash:

 

[TartanJack]

Am I the only one that thinks "60s-xB2" when I saw shots like this?

(I might be . . . )

 

[Hellen4Wheels]

I definitely see the similarities...and we thought we were the first to drive an urban sport wagon.

 

[Geezer]

I think the old Mini wagons fall into the same catagory.

Hmmm....roof basket...big honkin' driving lights...I wonder....

Nah.