If You Don’t Stop And Look Around Once In A While, You Could Miss It.
When Knight Rider hit TV screens on September 26, 1982, it instantly became one of the most iconic shows of the 80s. Starring David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight and his talking car, KITT, the show ran for four seasons and 90 episodes before wrapping up in 1986. For fans of fast cars, wild stunts, and futuristic tech, Knight Rider was pure primetime magic. And let’s be honest, KITT stole the show.
Here are 5 fun facts about everyone’s favorite talking car:
1. KITT’s Voice Was a Familiar One
KITT’s smooth, witty voice was provided by none other than William Daniels. If that name sounds familiar, it is because Daniels later became beloved as Mr. Feeny on the 90s classic Boy Meets World. That means for two generations of fans, his voice is instantly nostalgic whether you picture a futuristic Trans Am or a high school classroom.
2. What Does KITT Stand For?
KITT is not just a cool name, it is an acronym. The car’s official title is Knight Industries Two Thousand, a nod to the Knight Foundation that built the car and the futuristic technology powering it.
3. Meet KARR: KITT’s Evil Twin
KITT was not the only talking car in the Knight Rider universe. Enter KARR, the Knight Automated Roving Robot. Unlike KITT, who was programmed to protect human life, KARR had no such safeguards, which made him dangerous. He appeared in two episodes and gave fans a memorable taste of what a villainous version of KITT would look like.
4. KARR’s Voices Were Legendary Too
KARR had some serious star power behind the microphone. In his first appearance, he was voiced by Peter Cullen, the same voice actor who brought Optimus Prime to life in The Transformers cartoon. In his second appearance, KARR was voiced by Paul Frees, whose legendary voice acting résumé includes the Ghost Host from Disney’s Haunted Mansion and Santa Claus in Frosty the Snowman.
5. KITT Was a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am and There Was More Than One
KITT was not a one-of-a-kind build. The production team actually used a fleet of 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Ams, each modified for filming. Some were reserved as pristine “hero cars” for close-up shots and dialogue scenes, while others were fitted for stunts and action sequences. Over 20 cars in total were acquired and customized, ensuring that KITT could handle everything from high-speed chases to big crash scenes without sidelining the main show car.
Final Lap
Knight Rider may have gone off the air in 1986, but the bond between Michael Knight and KITT lives on as one of the ultimate 80s TV memories. Whether you remember watching the show during its original run or caught it in reruns, KITT is the kind of car we all wish we had waiting in the driveway.