Knight Rider: The Car That Talked Back

One Man Can Make a Difference

Knight Rider started in 1982. It starred David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight. But the real star was the car.

Meet KITT

KITT stood for Knight Industries Two Thousand. It was a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am.

What Made KITT Special:

• It could talk with a human voice
• It could drive itself
• It had a red scanner light in front
• It was almost impossible to damage
• It was Michael Knight's best friend

KITT's Amazing Features

The car could do things no real car could do:

Turbo Boost:

• KITT could jump over things
• Cars, trucks, even buildings
• The car would launch into the air
• It always landed safely

Super Pursuit Mode:

• Extra speed when needed
• The car would change shape slightly
• Faster than any other car
• Used to catch bad guys

Molecular Bonded Shell:

• Bullets bounced off
• Crashes didn't hurt it
• Almost nothing could break it
• Made of a special material

Other Cool Stuff:

• Oil slick to make cars spin out
• Smoke screen to hide
• Grappling hook to grab things
• Ejector seat (but rarely used)

The Voice of KITT

William Daniels voiced KITT. You might know him as Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World.

KITT's Personality:

• Very smart
• A little sarcastic
• Cared about Michael
• Sometimes worried too much
• Had feelings like a real person

The Real Cars

The show used real Trans Ams. Many were destroyed during filming.

Behind the Scenes:

• About 20 cars were used over four seasons
• Stunt cars for action scenes
• Hero cars for close-ups
• Some had no engines
• Many were crashed on purpose

Famous Episodes

Some episodes everyone remembers:

"KITT vs KARR":

• KARR was KITT's evil prototype
• Same car, but bad
• Gold instead of black
• Wanted to survive at any cost
• Epic battle between the two

"Knight of the Phoenix":

• The first episode
• Michael Knight is shot
• He gets a new face
• He meets KITT for the first time
• The adventure begins

The Theme Song

That music was unforgettable:

• Synthesizer heavy
• Very 80s sound
• You can probably hear it now
• One of the best TV themes ever

Impact on Car Culture

Knight Rider made people love Trans Ams even more.

What Happened:

• Trans Am sales went up
• Kids wanted KITT toys
• People added red lights to their cars
• Car shows featured KITT replicas
• The car became a legend

KITT Toys and Games

Every kid wanted KITT stuff:

• Die-cast cars - Small KITT toys
• Remote control KITT - Drive it around
• Video games - Be Michael Knight
• Lunch boxes - Take KITT to school
• Halloween costumes - Dress like Michael

The Legacy

Knight Rider ended in 1986. But KITT never left our hearts.

Why We Still Love It:

• It showed us the future
• Car and driver as partners
• Good always beats evil
• Technology can help people
• The car had a soul

KITT Today

You can still see KITT cars at:

• Car shows around the country
• Museums with TV props
• Fan conventions
• Some people build their own
• The internet keeps KITT alive

The show might be old now. But KITT will always be the coolest car on TV.

Did you dream of owning KITT? Share your memories in the guestbook!