who drove kitt the car

What is the name of the first KITT car?

The 1991 movie Knight Rider 2000 saw the first KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) in pieces, and Michael Knight himself reviving the Knight 2000 microprocessor unit, which is eventually transferred into the body of the vehicle intended to be the original KITT's direct successor, the Knight 4000.

Is Kitt really a self-driving car in Knight Rider?

Knight Rider fans have long speculated about the secret behind KITT’s incredible ability to drive autonomously in the show. While nowadays, the concept of a self-driving car isn’t as alien as it was back in the ’80s, seeing KITT driving itself and open its doors for David Hasselhoff is still as impressive as ever.

What kind of cars did they drive in Knight Rider?

Knight Rider was a massive hit show featuring David Hasselhoff and a Pontiac Trans Am. Admit it, every gearhead growing up in the '80s wanted to own a car like KITT. Other action TV shows of the era had fast cars, vans, and even a couple of helicopters, but none could actually drive, talk or even think for themselves the way KITT could, and did.

How did the Kitt drive on its own?

To get the visual effect that the KITT was driving on its own, those working on the car installed controls on the passenger footwell. When viewers would see the car driving independently, there was actually a stuntman lying on the floor and driving the vehicle. How Fast Was the KITT Car?

Who drove the car in Knight Rider?

In the original Knight Rider series, the character of KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) was physically embodied as a modified 1982 Pontiac Trans Am....Knight Industries Two Thousand (KITT)Knight Industries Two ThousandPortrayed by1982 Pontiac Trans AmVoiced byWilliam DanielsNicknameKITT4 more rows

How did KITT drive itself?

What this means is that, when you see KITT pull over to pick up Hasselhoff, the actor is just pretending to drive the car away, as that remains the job of the stunt driver hidden in the passenger's seat.

Who owns the original KITT car from Knight Rider?

The car was eventually sold, restored, and the Historians bought it from that person. It's now the one residing at the Petersen Museum. Owning just one original KITT is something very special, never mind two.

How many cars did they use for Knight Rider?

Three cars were made for the first season of the show, and the success led to a total of 15 to 20 cars used for stunting and such. Only five of the said Trans Ams survived in the end. The question is, where are the Knight Rider Pontiac Trans Am cars?

How much is KITT the car worth?

The chances of that occurring are extremely good; the current bid is $975,000, and the original estimate for the vehicle was between $175,000 and $300,000.

What engine was in KITT?

Based on an F-body Pontiac Trans Am, K.I.T.T. was a front-engine 5-liter V-8, which pushed 145-horsepower to it's rear-wheels.

How much did the Knight Rider car sell for?

$300,000The auction hammer has come down on David Hasselhoff's personal K.I.T.T. car. In late January, the customized 1982 black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am sold for a whopping $300,000. Much lower than initially anticipated after investigations by the auction house invalidated a few bids.

How many Firebirds were used in Knight Rider?

The car used as KITT in the show was a customised 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am sports car that cost around $100,000 USD to build (around $275,000 USD in today's money). It is said that throughout the four seasons of the hit TV show 19 cars were used, 14 of which were destroyed during or after production.

Does Knight Ridder still exist?

Knight Ridder /ˈrɪdər/ was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. Until it was bought by McClatchy on June 27, 2006, it was the second largest newspaper publisher in the United States, with 32 daily newspaper brands sold. Its headquarters were located in San Jose, California.

Do they destroy real cars in movies?

Yes, movie studios do use actual classic cars in many cases, also known as “hero cars.” Think of a hero car like the star. It's too expensive and precious to go blowing up, so it has a stunt team.

How many Kitts are left?

FiveFour long seasons meant Universal built about twenty stunt cars for Michael Knight. Then, they had to get rid of most them. Only five has survived.

What's David Hasselhoff's net worth?

This success combined with his royalties and his other ventures have placed Hasselhoff's fortune at more than $100 million.

Was KITT a self driving car?

KITT, the fictional self-driving car in TV's Knight Rider, depicted a self-aware self-driving car with artificial intelligence.

Was KITT remote controlled?

The Mad Genius Did It Again: KITT Replica Gets Remote Controls. That's right, Bjorn Harms is at it again.

Did David Hasselhoff do his own stunts in Knight Rider?

In the story Michael Knight doubles for an actor played by David Hasselhoff's stuntman Matt McColm. In reality McColm did the stunts for Michael Knight during the show, doubling the man who's playing his own stunt double.

When did KITT get super pursuit mode?

season 4The K.I.T.T. Super Pursuit Mode model is based on the season 4 version of the Knight Industries Two Thousand from the TV show "Knight Rider". In the show's last season they made an attempt to boost ratings by giving K.I.T.T. more features including the "Super Pursuit" mode and a "Convertible" mode.

How many Pontiacs were used in the show?

Of approximately 20 Pontiacs used through the course of the show, this was one of the last ones built and lived the hard life of a stunt car. It actually started life as a base Firebird without t-tops, nor did it have the full-on futuristic dash.

What is the email address for tips on motor1.com?

Got a tip for us? Email: [email protected]

Who owns the K.I.T.T. car?

There are few cars in the world as identifiable and iconic as K.I.T.T. from the quintessential 1980’s television show Knight Rider. Being one of the most identifiable and iconic car guys in the world we’d expect Jay Leno to be totally into the it, especially considering this isn’t a replica but one of the original cars used on the series. In fact, it’s one of only five that are still around, and it was literally saved from a junkyard by its current owner, Joe Huth. The backstory on this rare car is amazing, but sadly Leno seemed more interesting in poking fun at the owner and his friend because both are superfans of the TV show. Really? Yeah, really.

Who drives the original K.I.T.T?

Jay Leno Drives An Original K.I.T.T. From Knight Rider

What were the weird shows of the 1980s?

Weird high-concept shows peppered the big three networks of the 1980s. The weirdness of Manimal and Automan couldn't find a steady audience, but shows such as Airwolf and Alf stuck around long enough to solidify a place in the zeitgeist. But none of them could top Knight Rider and its automotive star K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand), a talking car that drove itself, had an arsenal of weapons, and for some unknown reason could jump when the turbo boost was enabled. David Hasselhoff played Michael Knight, the crime-fighting human protagonist of the series.

What car did David Hasselhoff drive in Knight Rider?

If you pay top dollar, he'll deliver it to you personally. Actor, recording artist, and America's Got Talent judge David Hasselhoff has put his personal K.I.T.T. , the car from the 1980s TV show Knight Rider, up for auction.

Is the 1982 Pontiac Firebird a K.I.T.T. car?

According to the auction description, the 1982 Pontiac Fire bird Trans Am conversion is a fully functioning K.I.T.T. car, although don't expect any weaponry or the vehicle actually helping you solve crimes while it doles out droll observations.

Who is the judge of Knight Rider?

Actor, recording artist, and America's Got Talent judge David Hasselhoff has put his personal K.I.T.T., the car from the 1980s TV show Knight Rider, up for auction.

How many Kitts are there in Knight Rider?

By the time the show got popular, there were about 18 different KITTs in Knight Rider, all of them custom-tuned to fulfil a specific task. Be it high-speed chases or off-road stunts, it seemed like KITT could do it all. Except, that is, drive itself, which is the issue that we’ll address next.

Does Kitt drive on Knight Rider?

Knight Rider fans have long speculated about the secret behind KITT’s incredible ability to drive autonomously in the show. While nowadays, the concept of a self-driving car isn’t as alien as it was back in the ’80s, seeing KITT driving itself and open its doors for David Hasselhoff is still as impressive as ever.

Did a small person drive a Kitt?

There have been many theories about how this was achieved: one of the most popular ones is that a small person drove the car whenever KITT needed to perform any stunt. The truth, however, is much more impressive than that, and it involves a veritable army of KITTs, something that Knight Rider fans will no doubt love.

Did Kitt have RC cars?

So, there you have it. There were no RC-controlled cars or little people hidden under KITT’s dashboard – Just good old engineering and tons of talent, courtesy of the legendary George Barris.

How does Kitt communicate with Michael?

KITT is in constant contact with Michael via a comlink through a two-way communication wristwatch (a modified '80s LCD AM radio watch) Michael wore. The watch also has a micro camera and scanner that KITT can access to gather information. In an emergency, Michael can activate a secret homing beacon hidden inside a gold pendant he wears around his neck. The beacon sends a priority signal that can remotely activate KITT, even if KITT were deactivated, and override his programming so that he rushes to Michael's aid. Used in Episode 42, "A Good Knight's Work" and in "Knights of the Fast Lane".

How many monitors does Kitt have?

KITT has two CRT video display monitors on his dash. KITT later only has one when his dash was redesigned by Bonnie for the show's third season. Michael can contact home base and communicate with Devon and others by way of a telephone comlink using KITT's video display. The video display is also used for the Graphic Translator system (which sketches likenesses from verbal input to create a Facial composite ), as well as for scanning or analysis results. KITT can also print hard copies of data on a dashboard-mounted printer (First used in Episode 15, "The Topaz Connection").

How many cars were used in the Cars of the Stars?

A total of 23 KITT cars were made for use in filming the series. All except one of these cars survived until the show was axed; all except 5 of the remaining 22 cars were destroyed at the end of filming. Of the 5 that escaped that fate: 1 stunt car (originally at the universal theme park) was shipped to a theme park in Australia, for World Expo '88, in Brisbane, Queensland, but is now believed to be back in the US. Universal kept one 'hero' and one stunt car for use in the Entertainment Center display – the two originals have since been sold to a private collector in the US; another, a convertible, disappeared for a while before being sold to the former Cars of the Stars Motor Museum in Keswick, Cumbria, England This convertible was sold to the Dezer Collection, Orlando, Florida when Cars of the Stars closed. The fifth car is believed to be in private hands in the UK.

What episode does Kitt dispense money to Michael?

KITT can dispense money to Michael when he needed it (First used in Episode 59, “Knight by a Nose”).

How hot can a kitt get?

KITT is also protected by a thermal-resistant Pyroclastic lamination coating that can withstand sustained temperatures of up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit (426 °C). First used in Episode 32, "Ring of Fire".

What was the second vehicle built by Knight Industries with talking artificial intelligence?

However, Wilton saw better use for "him" in the Foundation's crime-fighting crusade and eventually the system was installed in the vehicle. KITT was the second vehicle built by Knight Industries with talking artificial intelligence. His predecessor was KARR, the Knight Automated Roving Robot.

What is a kitt?

KITT is an advanced supercomputer on wheels. The "brain" of KITT is the Knight 2000 microprocessor, which is the centre of a " self-aware " cybernetic logic module. This allows KITT to think, learn, communicate and interact with humans. He is also capable of independent thought and action.

What is PMT trucking?

PMT was Pacific Motor Transport, the trucking company that transported the new Camaros and Firebirds from GM’s assembly plant in nearby Van Nuys to dealerships all over the country. The cars, literally just minutes old, would be driven out of the factory and into the PMT parking lot, where they would be stored until scheduled for transport by truck or train.

What year was the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am?

1983 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM “KITT”. The cars were needed for a new television show, a light-hearted action-adventure crime drama called Knight Rider, and those three Pontiac Trans Ams, obtained under unorthodox circumstances, proved to be one of the most successful automotive product placements of all time.

What was the first Kitt car?

To make KITT drive itself, the first car, known as “Camera Car #1, ” was fitted with redundant controls on the passenger footwell and would be driven by a stuntman lying on the passenger floor. Incredibly, all three of the original KITTs survive today. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

What TV shows had star cars?

Here’s how they fell in chronological order: The Rockford Files (1974–80), Starsky and Hutch (1975–79), CHiPs (1977–83), Vega$ (1978–81), The Dukes of Hazzard (1979–85), Magnum P.I. (1980–88), The Fall Guy (1981–86), Simon & Simon (1981–89), Knight Rider (1982–86), Hardcastle and McCormick (1983–86), The A-Team (1983–87), Riptide (1984–86), Miami Vice (1984–90), Stingray (1985–87), and Spenser: For Hire (1985–88).

What to do if playback doesn't begin?

If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

How many episodes of Knight Rider are there?

Knight Rider, which premiered on NBC on September 26, 1982, would run for 84 episodes over four seasons and generate an obscene amount of money in merchandising, from toy cars to t-shirts to lunch boxes.

When did car jumps become popular?

Car jumps became very popular after The Dukes of Hazzard hit big in 1979, and Larson had many written into the scripts for both The Fall Guy and Knight Rider. He had KITT constantly flying, as well as performing other stunts like driving through walls and skiing up on two wheels.

9 Automotive Crime Busting Star

Without a question, KITT was the star of Knight Rider, both personal transport, crime-busting gadget-laden car, and a surprising hit with viewers. Instead of just a car, think of KITT as the sidekick/partner with attitude. Every situation greeted with a mix of dry humor and matter of fact retorts.

8 Who Or What Was KITT?

Every week, Knight Rider opened with its famous "lone crusader" intro statement accompanied by clips of the series, and more importantly the head-on view of KITT. But who was KITT? Pontiac's Trans-Am is the physical aspect, the only visible aspect of the bundle of circuits, a front-mounted swooshing red LED array serving as KITT and his sensors.

7 KITT For TATT

Our first glimpse of KITT way back in 1982 would also be Michael Knights' first encounter with the Knight Industries Two Thousand, a highly advanced autonomous weapon in the fight against crime. KITT bursts onto our screens with its now-familiar red sensor sweep.

6 Gadget Lovers Dream Ride

It would be impossible to place a real-world value on KITT's design and construction, ballpark figures suggest a conservative estimate of around $12 million for the original show car if all the induced tech and gadgetry worked. Throughout the show, KITT underwent dozens of changes and upgrades.

5 Turbos Give You Wings

Every gearhead has the gist of how turbochargers work. Exhaust gases drive an impeller that in turn operates a compressor forcing more air and full into a car cylinder resulting in a bigger band and more performance, turbos in the '80s were still a relatively new thing for automotive use.

4 The Fast And Even Faster

Running from 1982-86, KITT was the fastest thing on four wheels anywhere in the world, 0-60 mph in a claimed 2-seconds, passing the quarter-mile in 4.4-seconds with a top speed over 200 mph, surely fast enough to catch any law dodger. However, in the fourth and final season, producers gave KITT a little extra under the hood.

3 One Of A Kind?

Save for a couple of expensive rebuilds during the show at the mercy of Goliath, KARR, Juggernaut, and the infamous acid bath scene, KITT was one of a kind. An experimental prototype designed to withstand gunfire, collisions, and even the odd explosion or two. Pontiac supplied every single KITT car used in the show for a measly $1 sale price.

What did Glen Larson want in a muscle car?

Glen Larson wanted the talking muscle car to have a heartbeat and asked Scheffe to design a beam of light like the Cylons had in Battlestar Galactica to be used on the front of the vehicle. The Pontiac's nose was eventually extended slightly.

What is a black Pontiac Firebird?

A black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am built to mimic KITT from the TV series Knight Rider.

What episode is Knight Rider the 24-carat Assassin?

Knight Rider: The 24-Carat Assassin. (UK publication only) Adapted from and expanded upon the feature-length / two-part second-season episode 'Mouth of the Snake' . The back of the book actually states that it is adapted from All That Glitters – the working title for the story.

How many seasons of Knight Rider are there?

Universal Studios has released all four seasons of Knight Rider on DVD in regions 1, 2 & 4. A complete series box set featuring all 90 episodes in a collector's edition box has been released in regions 1 & 2.

What song is the Knight Rider theme from?

The Knight Rider theme heavily borrowed from Léo Delibes ' " Procession of Bacchus" from Sylvia (ballet). The theme was sampled in the songs " Clock Strikes ", " Fire It Up ", and " Mundian to Bach Ke ", and was also featured as Ted's ringtone in John's phone in the 2012 comedy film Ted.

What episode did Wilton Knight say "One man can make a difference"?

During the first season, the outro was Michael and KITT driving on a road in the desert with Wilton Knight's words of "One man can make a difference, Michael." These words were phased out after episode 7 , "Not A Drop To Drink".

What is the karr in season 1?

Externally, the Knight Automated Roving Robot (KARR) in season one was virtually identical to KITT. The only interior change was a light green voice modulator with separate bars instead of the red flashing square that K.I.T.T. used in early episodes. The engine sounds and scanner sounds were also different.

How many heroes cars were in Knight Rider?

Throughout the first two seasons of Knight Rider, the production had only one “hero” car – the car outfitted with a complete dash and used anytime you see David Hasselhoff getting out of the vehicle. This car was kept in pristine shape and was rarely used for stunts.

Where is the Kruse car?

For the last couple of decades, until 2018, this car was on display at the Kruse Museum in Auburn, IN. Currently, it is in storage with the hopes that it will return to public view one day soon!

Where was the lost knight car sent off?

You can see it in the stills below: Following the production of these two episodes, this car was sent off to George Barris’ shop in North Hollywood, CA to be converted into the right-hand blind drive car. The show only had a driver’s side blind drive car up ...

Who took the picture of the hero car?

There’s a picture taken by Michael Scheffe (which we will not publicly post) in 1982 showing one of his workers getting ready to cut the stock dashboard with a saw. We believe it was this very car, which again adds to the fact that this was the original hero car.

Overview

Knight Industries Two Thousand (KITT)

Knight Industries Three Thousand (KITT)

Knight Industries Four Thousand (Knight 4000)

KARR

F.L.A.G. Mobile Command Center

Reception and significance

External links