(first posted 7/29/2017) One of the good things about life in Portland is our 24/7 non-commercial classical radio station, “All Classical” KQAC. They use this pristine 1954 Chevy 3100 Panel Truck in parades and field operations around town. Truly a classical alternative to an ordinary modern van.
Here it is in Tom McCall Waterfront Park along the Willamette River, showing off the network of stations they’ve assembled covering much of western and central Oregon. In fact they’re planning to provide a special Eclipse Soundtrack for the total eclipse of the sun that comes ashore in Oregon on August 21st, on the radio throughout much of the zone of totality, and at the Portland Waterfront Park viewing party where the eclipse will be 99% of total.
Another good shot of this van at the radio station, loading up for an event. “All Classical” isn’t a stereotypically stuffy classical music organization, they like to have a bit of fun and good humor along with the culture.
This front view from Christmastime shows its 1954 crossbar chrome grille and one-piece windshield, the only major changes in Chevy’s Advance Design platform, used for all Chevy’s trucks including the Suburban, pickups, cargo vans and cabovers from 1947 to 1955. This is a 3100, the 1/2 ton version.
I’ve seen this van out and about in traffic, but never parked. These are photos I’ve collected from various web sites.
I’ve seen their equally nice early-50’s Chevy pickup truck around as well, but this Starlight Parade appearance is the only good photo I’ve found. “All Classical” Radio is a classy bunch.
Nice truck! Is all that chome trim on the fenders stock? If so, this was one really decked-out van. Any idea if the normal 3 speed or if it had the unusual HydraMatic?
In the way that hidden headlights (Sting Ray & mid-60’s Riviera, Gran Prix & others) gave the front view a distorted, ‘blind’ appearance ……
…… The minimal, rudimentary tail lights of many cars & trucks into the early ’50’s, also translates into a ‘blind butt’ kind of appearance.
What would this Chevy panel truck say about today’s 3rd-eye brake lights, sequential turn signals (dating back to mid-60’s T-Birds), and halogen & LED illumination in such a dazzling (and distracting) array of forms?!
That Chevrolet panel truck itself has rear lighting that didn’t come from the factory.
It was built with only one tail light, the one on the left side above the license plate, for which it also provided illumination. It’s the look of two tail lights thst looks odd, to me.
But then, I saw a lot if these, way back when. Nice to see this splendid survivor.
Good point !
It’s always welcomed when advertisers go further, and employ genuine Curbside Classics for promotion purposes. As it’s so convenient, if trite, to lease a modern CUV and have advertising ‘wrap’ added to the exterior.
A market like Portland would appreciate this extra touch of authenticity.
I love the colors on that panel truck. What an eye catching combination. Maine Public Classical has radio stations across Maine on different frequencies depending on your location that are very nice to listen to. I would encourage anyone to include some classical into their listening selection. Keep in mind, you won’t like all of it. You may not like most of it but when a certain song grabs you, it is worth the effort.
That’s a trend, these days: nonprofit classical broadcasting with one ” main” station, simulcast on low powered local repeater stations covering a wide area overall. Ours in the San Francisco Bay Area is KDFC, whose call letters date back to a commercial classical station that started in the 1940s. The original KDFC frequency was sold; the “new” KDFC, owned by the University of Southern California, purchased a former religious station and a university station, and has expanded with several more since.
The big Philadelphia metro area, unlike the SF Bay Area and the much smaller Portland area, lacks full time classical. Its classical station plays jazz, another musical genre considered as “fringe” by many, at night. But there is a surfeit of hard rock, rap and hip-hop.
Eugene has a very good full-time classical station (KWAX) owned by the university, but self-funded.They too have a big network of high-power and low-power repeaters and cover the southern half of the state.
I grew up with lots of classical music, and played the violin in grade school. And I used to listen to this station, but about a dozen years ago or so, I suddenly burned out on the genre, and switched mainly to classic jazz. Just lately I’ve enjoyed a bit of classical again.
The problem with these, and all radio stations, is their playlist. That’s why streaming services are so much better; they play what you want to hear. I fear for the future of radio, and I’m hardly the only one.
I think the future of radio is mainly in the car. And I agree the playlist is critical. Practically every car and truck on the road has FM radio by now, and the listening is free, with no ads on the non-commercial stations (except for the occasional begging I mean fundraising drives). We support the stations we listen to because we can afford to, but I think it’s important that it can be free for anyone.
My new Fiat came with a year of satellite radio, which includes pretty good classical and jazz channels and tons of others, but I probably won’t pay for it after my year is up. It’s not as good as my local FM.
Streaming internet radio is certainly another choice, even in the car if you don’t mind using the data service on your phone. It does cost a bit on some services like Pandora to get rid of some very annoying ads.
But a lot depends on the playlist and the personalities. I still listen to All Classical quite a bit in the car, at home and at work, because I like the DJs and what they play. I think the best FM radio stations will continue to survive. The smart ones with local marketing like this fine truck.
G.P., you are an Audiophile as well as an Autophile —
The Philly station you refer to must be WRTI, associated with Temple U.
While, as you said, we don’t have full-time classical, Philadelphia does support three public stations:
1. WRTI – classical, jazz & progressive.
2. WHYY – NPR & local talk-talk-talk.
3. WXPN – alt-rock & indie from U. of PA.
Happy listening!
Yes, there aren’t any full time classical stations two hours north of Philly either, the public radio stations do play a lot of it.
1. WDIY – NPR, and whatever music the current D.J. feels like playing. I have heard all genres of music on that station. Classical usually on weekday mornings.
2. WRTI – they have a transmitter not too far away from me.
3. WVIA – NPR, jazz, and classical
Sacramento has two public radio stations, both run by Capital Public Radio.
When I first moved to the area it was:
KXPR – Classical
KXJZ – Jazz and NPR news
But then they changed the formats years ago, so there’s no longer a full time classical station. Now the formats are:
KXPR – Music, both classical and jazz
KXJZ – NPR news/talk
That’s a beauty .
The upper rear lights are in fact, factory installed turn signal lights and used the taillights from a 1939 Chevy Sedan, typical GM parts bin engineering .
All that glorious stainless steel is also factory, DeLuxe and not often seen even way back when .
They changed the frame to lower the ride height in ‘564 too along with a new dashboard added full pressure oiling to all the i6 engines too .
-Nate
I think you’re right about the DeLuxe trim. According to the brochure page even the grille was painted on the standard truck. Here’s another example of DeLuxe trim from the web.
Thanx for that terrific picture ! .
Notice also the stainless steel door window and windshield surrounds on the DeLuxe models .
-Nate
The inspiration for the design of my 2008 Chevy HHR!
Well, gee – our KUSC (also all-classical 24/7) has no signature vehicle whatsoever; the only time they mention such things is when they’re asking us to donate one for the write-off. Here in the heart of the SoCal Car Culture such a thing seems almost heretical … as for me and my car, we travel with a list of those repeater stations, which hold out as far north as Morro Bay. Glad to read about what can keep us in music farther north!
This is an awfully sweet truck, and the signage is beyond cool. Thanks for the great photos.
Nice panelvan, the very few we had here were far less ornate obviously not de luxe editions like this one.
I’d feel a little self conscious driving this, but it’s a beautiful rolling billboard.
My favourite local one is the Steam Whistle Econoline van. I think I have one of those in the fridge right now (the beer, not the van) 🙂
Love it!
If I were king the tax codes would actively promote such worthwhile ancillaries – an enhancement of the public realm clause.
My Eclipse Playlist. I’ll be wherever the Rose City Astronomers needs a volunteer for a group holding an event that day. Madras will be an insane parking lot of 100,000 in a town of 7,000. Salem won’t be any better. Get your eclipse eye protection, use a pinhole camera or risk retina damage, folks!
1. Creedence – Bad Moon Rising
2. Deep Purple – Highway Star
3. The Beatles – Good Day Sunshine
4. Cream – Sunshine Of Your Love
5. The Doors – Waiting For The Sun
6. Donovan – Sunshine Superman
7. David Bowie – Star
8. Richard Strauss – Also Sprach Zarathustra (at the climatic moment totality begins!)
9. The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
10 The Doors – Moonlight Drive
11. Duran Duran – New Moon On Monday (August 21st IS a Monday!)
12. The Aquarius Soundtrack – Good Morning Starshine
13. The Riverias – California Sun
14. Pink Floyd – Eclipse
The whole list is about an hour long. I hope I can time it right!
Outstanding playlist! It’s fun to think of a proper accompaniment to such an event. All Classical’s Eclipse Soundtrack playlist, which includes a new work they commissioned especially for the occasion, is here.
Here’s hoping for clear skies, never something to take for granted around here.
They’re guessing Salem usually has about a 50% chance of clouds that time of year. I’m taking my chances on the eastern side of the Cascades!
I thought of another song to add: The Grateful Dead’s Dark Star 🙂
And 89.9 is on my car’s presets, I like that station 🙂
50% chance of clouds in Salem at that time of year? Mid August? That’s absurd. More like 5-10%, in my experience here in Eugene, which has essentially the same conditions as Salem.
https://weatherspark.com/d/411/8/21/Average-Weather-on-August-21-in-Salem-Oregon-United-States#Sections-Clouds
Since the eclipse starts at 9:05am and totality is at 10:19, there is a substantial probability that less than clear skies will happen. Since this is a twice in a lifetime thing for me (like my marriages) I won’t take any chances!
There used to be a commercial printer in Kalamazoo, Michigan that had a Morris Minor (Traveler?) wagon used as a curbside promotional/light delivery vehicle. It was largely bone-stock, in BRG no less, with the company name painted on the sides. It looked like a very well done restoration. Unfortunately, I’ve been out of (strictly) commercial printing for a few years now, and I’ve forgotten the name of the place.
WRT NPR and public radio stations: Here in Grand Rapids, we have a community funded radio station, not affiliated with NPR or any of the local universities. WYCE are the call letters (88.5 FM) and it reminds me of those old college radio stations where there was not a set play list and you hear music from all genres, all mixed together. It can be great listening and other times, not so much.
Along with the NPR network based out of Ann Arbor (WUOM and it’s repeaters) and the local NPR station based at Grand Valley University here on the west side of the state (WGVU) (and I’m sure I’m forgetting the radio stations from several other colleges who have entirely different play lists, too) one can go from Lake Erie to Lake Michigan without ever having to tune in to a commercial station.
We’ve got a local beer bar that uses a VW Microbus as a courtesy van.
There’s a long history of music trucks with horns on top…. just ask Larry Fine (pic).
Pop Goes The Weasel.
Great looking van, and good to see it working, if gently.
OOI, how does a non-commercial 24/7 radio station work and cover it’s costs? Is it a subscription service?
Hi Roger, and thanks for all your excellent articles.
It’s not a subscription service, can’t do that here in the broadcasting bands. Non-commercial radio in the US is mainly supported by tax-deductible listener contributions, regional arts foundations, and local businesses who underwrite programming in exchange for short announcements. Every few months there are funding drives with polite but incessant begging between the musical pieces. All Classical radio says they get about 93% of their funding this way. Government funding is little-to-none. National Public Radio network stations get a small amount of federal funding but it’s mostly this same model.
There’s quite a bit of volunteer work at the smaller stations and certainly nobody’s getting rich at this, it’s strictly non-profit. They mostly love what they’re doing.
KUSC does it this way with just two short pledge drives a year. With the money they get they support a staff of very savvy DJs and an ever-expanding playlist – it seems like someone is discovering some newly unearthed Albinoni piece once a month, fine by me! – and you can get the feed live by radio 24/7 or online, which lets them get pledges from anywhere on the planet.
Sorry if this is a tad off topic, but my love for old trucks and for classical music is kinda the same thing. And small-combo jazz.
Thanks for the info. Old trucks, classical music – I can relate to that
Here’s nice shot of the Chevy pick-up. Cheers!
Saw this beauty in San Luis Obispo a few years ago
While I have a wide taste in music, classical isn’t among my favorites.
But that panel truck, my god it’s a beauty. Glad it’s not local, I might have to listen to the station just because of it. But they didn’t look that good when they were new.
Mike ;
They certainly did but not for long .
The Advance Design was when GM really began to play to the non commercial buyer / user of commercial vehicles .
-Nate
If this radio station broadcast advertising, it would have to use an HHR as a promotional vehicle.since as long as the ear is bored, the eye would have it just as much.