Dahlquist would never find out who made the call, but the person wasn't lying. The cars were there, and Dahlquist was able to use them in the show. With the Trans Ams in the show's hands, the staff of "Knight Rider" would begin further modifications on the vehicles to give them a futuristic look. Working off detailed renderings from John Schinella, Pontiac's design chief, the staff modified the cars' interiors and exteriors to create the KITT's signature appearance.
Besides making exterior changes that fit the Cylon Warrior look, they also modified the interiors with new buttons, screens and digital readouts. The cars also received fiberglass coverings over the dashboards. The decision to allow "Knight Rider" to use the Trans Am ended up being an excellent move by Pontiac.
The show was a huge success and put the Trans Am in front of millions of viewers. In addition to the TV show's popularity, the car also gained notoriety due to the high merchandise sales the series generated.
Since the Knight Rider Trans AM could think and talk, the show needed an actor to provide the voiceover. William Daniels turned out to be the man for the job and even influenced how the car was characterized. While the show's producers wanted the automobile's voice to be more robotic, Daniels eventually convinced them to let him make the vehicle more human-like, with a brighter and more amusing voice.
One interesting tidbit from the show was that Daniels and Hasselhoff didn't meet each other until a Christmas party held when the series was already a hit. Daniels also chose not to have his name appear in the show's opening and closing credits during its time on air.
He did not want to be credited because he wanted audience members to get the sense that the car had a mind of its own. Despite Daniels' desire to stay relatively anonymous, he quickly became recognized by fans that he was the Knight Rider car voice. The KITT car had numerous features that prepared it for almost any situation.
As a sentient car, it would use its voice synthesizer to communicate with others. This microprocessor was essentially the car's brain, making it self-aware and able to think for itself.
With all of its features and high-tech additions, it's no wonder this vehicle was worth so much money. 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.
To fight crime and catch criminals, the KITT had to be fast. Its power system allowed it to go from 0 to 60 mph in just two seconds and travel a quarter-mile in 4.
With the turbo boost equipped, the car could reach a top speed of mph. Some fans even speculate that when the vehicle activated its super pursuit mode in later seasons, it could go over mph. Over the show's four seasons, the showrunners purchased and customized around 20 cars for various uses.
These cars either served as stunt or hero vehicles. Other KITTs were too banged up to drive after being used for the show's stunts and were junked. Of all the cars used for the show, only five remain. The original hero car was owned by and displayed at a museum but is now stored away. Fans can occasionally find the original cars at Sci-Fi and Comic-Con conventions. If you're wondering where the KITT car is now, you're in luck. You can find a detailed replica at Volo Auto Museum.
But if you're willing to bid a million dollars on a TV car, you're likely the type of person with the means to transport it to your home, along with the star of Baywatch and America's Got Talent.
New Cars. Buyer's Guide. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. In the series, the car could drive itself, talked, and was outfitted with weapons and a special turbo-boost feature that made it jump. The auction ends on January 23, and if the final price is at least 25 percent above the reserve, Hasselhoff will personally deliver the vehicle. TV Cars of Note. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
That show lasted for just one season. In August , Variety reported that a "Knight Rider" movie is reportedly in development, with "Furious 7" director James Wan's production company involved, but no official announcement has been made. Sign up to get the latest performance and luxury automotive news, delivered to your inbox daily! I agree to receive emails from Motor Authority.
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