The Euclid Rocket Car is a specialty unit from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The vehicle is one of two salvaged from an authentic space rocket swinging ride that was located at Euclid Beach Amusement Park until the parks closure in 1969. The ride vehicles were retrofitted with the drivetrain and sub-frame of a 1973 Oldsmobile Toronado by Ron Heitman.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Euclid Beach Rocket Car made its first Parade appearance in the 1988 Macy's Parade. The 28-foot long Rocket Car blasted down the Parade route with polished stainless steel panels. Inside the car is room for 10 adults or 15 kids, with seats upholstered in a heavy red naughahide, complete with seatbelts and automatic locking bars.
Over the next several years, the Rocket Car would become a Parade staple carrying stars from television, including the stars of Sesame Street, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Chip n' Dale and the kids who named the mascot for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Izzy.
After nearly a decade of appearances, the Rocket Car was retired following the 1996 Macy's Parade. The Rocket Car has since made appearances at the Indy 500 and other special occasions in Ohio.
Guest Stars[]
Listed below are the guest stars that have appeared/performed on the Rocket Car, alongside the respective songs which they sang during the NBC Parade telecast.
- 1988 - The Stars of Sesame Street, sang "Sing"
- 1989 - The Jets with Chip 'n' Dale, sang "Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers"
- 1990 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Band, performed "Count on Us"
- 1991 - pc Quest, sang "Can't You See"
- 1992 - The Balloonatiks Superheroes
- 1993 - Olympic Name Contest Winners
- 1994 - The Skeleton Warriors
- 1995 - Frank Dicopoulos, Ron Raines and Robert S. Woods
- 1996 - The Coconauts Cast