A troop of classic and contemporary Maserati sports and luxury cars will lead New York City's 63rd annual Columbus Day Parade up Fifth Avenue today. 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 2007 Quattroporte Automatic four-door sedan that goes from 0 to 60 in 5.5 seconds. Automotive enthusiasts will have an opportunity to view the cars in an exhibition following the parade and to win a 2008 Maserati GranTurismo in an exclusive raffle that will benefit the scholarship programs of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, which organizes the Columbus Day Parade. The GranTurismo being raffled is among the first 10 of Maserati's latest model to be imported into the United States this year.

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.

-- 1958 Maserati 3500 Vignale Spyder: Approximately 220 examples of this car were produced between 1958 to 1964. Many luminaries of the period owned this elegant, high-performance model.

-- 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.

-- 2004 Maserati MC 12: the MC 12 was developed to signal Maserati's return to racing after 37 years. The two-door mid-engine coupe is powered by a 6 liter, V12 engine producing 630 horsepower. In 2005, the MC 12 won FIA GT Manufacturers Cup with almost double the score of the next team.

-- 2007 Maserati Quattroporte Automatic: The Quattroporte Automatic is considered to be the most stylish sedan in production and is powered by a 400 horsepower V8 engine.

Following their appearance in the parade, the Maseratis will be on view in front of the Columbus Citizens Foundation until early evening. The exhibition will be on 69th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues.

A Maserati GranTurismo and a Quattroporte Automatic are currently on view in a unique exhibition in Grand Central Terminal through October 15. The sleek, 2008 Maserati GranTurismo is a rare gem among sports cars. One of the most highly anticipated introductions to the U.S. market in years, the GranTurismo is styled by Pininfarina with luxury appointments and has a powerful 4.2 litre, V8 engine (0-60 in 5.1 seconds).

Maserati is partnering with the Columbus Citizens Foundation in the raffles of the GranTurismo and Quattroporte Automatic models in recognition and support of the Foundation's scholarship programs and of the company's own Italian heritage. A Quattroporte Automatic was raffled at the Foundation's Annual Gala Dinner which was held in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on the night of October 6, and the GranTurismo is set to be raffled at 7:00 PM on October 15 in the Grand Central Terminal.

Proceeds of the raffle will benefit the Columbus Citizens Foundation's scholarship funds. The Foundation is a non-profit organisation in New York City that provides financial aid to deserving students from the elementary school through graduate school levels and organizes events that promote Italian-American heritage and culture. In 2007, the Foundation is providing financial aid to 849 students of Italian ancestry. The Foundation has organised New York City's Columbus Day Parade since 1929.