Automotive Blogger

I recently discovered that a local consignment car company has in their show room a genuine K.I.T.T. from the Knight Rider television series. I loved Knight Rider as a kid. It was a border line obsession. But what is funny to me now is that I realize David Hasselhoff is a terrible actor and a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am is a pretty terrible car. None the less Knight Rider amazed and entertained me with a talking car that was jam-packed with gadgets it was really hard not to like the show. And now I have my chance to own the genuine artifact of my childhood affection. So what does a black 1982 Pontiac Trans Am in full K.I.T.T. regalia go for? According to Kassabian Motors it should fetch in the neighborhood of $150,000. I have to believe that if it sells for that price it might be the most expensive ‘82 Pontiac ever sold. For that matter it might be the most expensive ‘82 anything ever sold.

Here is Kassabian’s description of the car:

**Own a piece of Television history!**

1982 Pontiac Trans Am
305 V-8 engine
2,393 original miles
This vehicle has been “Title Only” never registered for street operation.
Pontiac Historic Service (PHS) documentation
This is one of the 3 original cars Pontiac donated to Glen Larson to film the Knight Rider TV series.
It is one of only 4 surviving T-top cars from the series.
(1083, 1084, 1087, 1177) None of the 10 series cars have ever been offered for public sale. Cars 1084 & 1087 are on display in museums. One in Keswick, England and the other in Auburn, Indiana. Car #1177 has had all electronics changed by a reproduction company and does not have any of the original equipment from the series.
This car was a Picture or Hero car used in all 4 seasons of the series. In season 1&2 it was car #1083, for season 3&4 it was renumbered #1197 (Both numbers still remain on the car.)
This car has been restored to its original season 1 condition
Original dash with 2 operational TV’s. One connected to a camera in front of the car, the other connected to a DVD player with the audio speakers hidden under the nose.
Original interior fabric (very rare and not available in reproduction.)
Receivers welded to the frame for towing and shooting close up shots
Stunt brake switch operational (installed by stuntman Jack Gill for rear brake lock up.)
Electrical components will work on 12 volt battery or plug in to 110 current
Come take Michael Knight’s place behind the wheel of one of the most famous cars in history!

Unfortunately for me K.I.T.T. is way out of my price range, and I would probably have to sleep in the car every night for the next 20 years to justify its purchase. However, I have no doubt that some dedicated and wealthy Knight Rider fanatic will cough up the necessary dough to drive home in this piece of television history. And they will no doubt be the envy of several other fathers on their street.

-Bill Mertz

Pontiac, Trans Am, Knight Rider, David Hasselhoff, K.I.T.T, 1982, GM, Camaro, TV, television, show