New York City still owns and maintains the 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton that carried the first astronauts to walk the moon through a ticker tape parade in 1969. Courtesy of City Hall. The city’s connection to Apollo 11 is a Chrysler parked in Brooklyn

New York City has its own connection to the Apollo 11 moon landing that took place 50 years ago this weekend — and it’s parked in a garage in Brooklyn.

It’s the 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton — one of three versions of the car ever made by the automaker. And while the vehicle has never left the stratosphere, five decades ago it carried the esteemed astronauts who first walked on the moon in a ticker tape parade up Broadway.


It’s a 6,000-pound piece of rolling history that anchors New York City to the historic moment.

“Every time I see the car, it’s inspiring to look at the back seat and to know that Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins sat right there,” said Lisette Camilo, commissioner of the city’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

The car has been used to carry countless dignitaries and sports icons, from former Vice President Lyndon Johnson to professional golfer Ben Hogan. It has transported the president of Panama, Queens of Denmark and Greece and the Americans freed from the Iran hostage crisis.

It also transported Yankees players fresh off a World Series win down the Canyon of Heroes for a ticker tape parade. Yogi Berra had a unique experience with the car in that event, suffering a minor head injury after being hit by a roll of paper that hadn’t unraveled. (The car doesn’t have a roof.)

“I remember it hit him in the head,” said Paul Herszdorfer, a deputy assistant commissioner at DCAS who was in the parade’s motorcade. “He didn’t get that hurt, but it was scary.”

But many may not know that the city still has the car in its possession today, Herszdorfer said. The car was originally loaned to the city, but New York has owned and maintained it since 1961.

The Apollo 11 parade offers a good opportunity to remember its place in history.

“It’s a wonderful experience,” Herszdorfer said of driving the car. “During the parade — and even when you’re not in the parade and you’re driving it to get fuel and driving it in the street — everyone stops and starts screaming and yelling. It’s a really great experience.”

There haven't been many recent opportunities for the public to see the car.

Herszdorfer said the last time he recalled the car rolling down city streets was under the Bloomberg administration in 2012, after the Giants won the Super Bowl.

“Anytime there is a marathon or parade, it’s ready to go. But I guess this mayor likes to walk in the parades — this way he can get around and talk to the people and shake hands and stuff like that,” Herszdorfer said. “In this administration, they really haven’t used it.”

But the agency still makes sure the car is ready to go at a moment’s notice — a task that comes with the challenge of finding the right parts for maintenance and repairs.

About eight years ago, the city had to spend roughly $6,000 to replace the car’s wheels. DCAS had to locate a manufacturer in California that could reconstruct the specialty wheels and tires, which are filled with gas instead of air.

“The most expensive part of the whole thing was shipping them to us because they were pretty heavy and were coming from California,” Herszdorfer said.

Still, the car is low-maintenance for the most part. Herszdorfer said he’s been able to find a lot of parts on Amazon, and the Department of Sanitation had helped with some of the upkeep.

The Apollo 11 astronauts took a ride in the Chrysler in August of 1969. It was their first encounter with the public after their moon mission, as they were quarantined for three weeks upon their return amid concerns at the time over space germs.

City officials had considered taking the car out in public to commemorate the 50th anniversary, but rain forecasts ultimately quashed those plans.

Herszdorfer said he’s hopeful there will be an occasion to bring the vehicle out sooner rather than later.

“I’m hoping for the Yankees or the Mets. The Mets are due,” he said. “We always keep our fingers cross around World Series time and start to work on the car and get it ready — and hope it doesn’t rain or snow.”