The huge New York City Columbus Day Parade 2008 is today. But this year, New York’s Columbus Day Parade is something extra - a huge Maserati procession! Maserati automobiles old and new will join the New York Columbus Day Parade 2008 this year in an event of motoring wonder.

The Parade is today, on Fifth Ave., from 44th St. north to 79th St. Here is a press statement explaining the automaker’s spectacle to hit New York City Parade today.

“A troop of classic and contemporary Maserati sports and luxury cars will lead New York City’s 64th annual Columbus Day Parade up Fifth Avenue on October 13, 2008. In a unique display of Italian excellence in engineering and design, the Maseratis will range from a one-off, 16-cylinder Maserati Spyder, which set the world’s speed record in 1929, to a 2008 GranTurismo sports coupe that goes from 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds.

“Automotive enthusiasts will have an opportunity to view the cars in an exhibition following the parade and to win a 2009 Maserati Quattroporte S in an exclusive raffle that will benefit the scholarship programs of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, which organizes the Columbus Day Parade.

“Among the Maseratis to be featured in the Columbus Day Parade are the following:

“– 1929 / 1931 Maserati Spyder - V16: A unique model, the 1931 Maserati
Zagato Spyder was the first super car. Powered by an unusual
16-cylinder engine, the car set the world’s speed record of 152.9 mph
in 1929. It was later rebodied in 1931 by Zagato as a road-going
sports car. In 2003, it was a first place winner in the Pebble Beach
Concours.

“– 1953 Maserati A6GCS MM Spyder: The first Maserati A6GCS, Series II was
from the outset a factory race car that immediately earned an
impressive race history with wins in 1953 and 1954. In 2000, it was a
first place winner in the prestigious Louis Vuitton Concours at
Rockefeller Center.

“– 1955 Maserati A6G54 GT Frua Berlinetta: Exhibited in the Turin Motor
Show in 1955, this A6G54 was sold to Italian music legend Domenico
Modugno, who recorded and wrote the music and co-authored the lyrics
for “Volare,” which won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song
of the Year in 1958. In 2003, the Frua Berlinetta won Best of Show in
the 2003 Villa d’Este Concours in Cernobbio, Italy.

“– 1960 Maserati 5000 GT: This striking automobile, the second of 34 5000
GTs built, is identical to the model built for the Shah of Iran in
1959. It was displayed at the 1959 Turin Motor Show and uses the
Maserati 450 S race car engine and is capable of a top speed of over
170 mph.

“– 1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder SS: The Maserati Ghibli Spyder went into
production in 1969 and, as an SS model, is extremely rare — only 25
were built! The model in the 2007 Columbus Day Parade had only one
prior owner, a Neapolitan businessman who purchased it in 1970 to help
win the affection of a woman he considered the most beautiful in
Naples. They subsequently married and are still together to this day.

“– 1971 Maserati Ghibli SS: the Maserati Ghibli SS debuted at the 1966
Turin Motor Show. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was named Car
Designer of the 20th Century, the very low and particularly slender
design was powered by a 360 hp V8, giving it a top speed of 185 mph.

“– 2008 Maserati GranTurismo: The GranTurismo is considered to be the most stylish sports coupe in production and is powered by a 405 horsepower
V8 engine.

“… Maserati is partnering with the Columbus Citizens Foundation in the raffles of a Quattroporte S and GranTurismo in recognition and support of the Foundation’s scholarship programs and of the company’s own Italian heritage. “

For more on the Maserati event during and after the parade visit: http://www.columbusraffle.com