Complete History of our Screen Used Knight Rider KITT Car - From the GM Plant to Today! Documentary 

Seeing the state the car was in when you acquired it and the work of art it is today,just goes to show it couldn't be in better hands. So glad you guys got to it when you did and preserved/restored this piece of TV history. I think I speak for everybody when I say "Thank You Knight Rider Historians"

This is beautiful. It made me so angry at the level of negligence the studio gave this amazing piece of machinery that provided so much in their service. God bless you for salvaging one of my favorite characters from the 80s.

The ideas did predict the future in part: screens inside a car, keyless entry, navigation, scanners of sorts, runflat tyres. You can even talk to your watch now.

Funny story to tell about KITT and Knight Rider. I was born in 1974 and a majority of my childhood and early teenage years all took place in the 1980’s. So I am definitely an 80’s kid for sure. With Knight Rider, I used to absolutely love that show and ever since the very first episode came out, I’ve always wanted to own a pristine Knight Rider KITT car myself. And to this day, that still has not ever changed and is something that is definitely on my “to do” bucket list before I do, assuming that I also get rich some day. Growing up, when GM switched the Camaro, Firebird and Trans Am’s to the 80’s body style that we all remembered both of my parents fell in love with those cars. Our very first Camaro was a 1982 red t-top Camaro that had a 4 cylinder engine and either a 4 or 5 speed manual transmission. I can’t remember which one exactly for sure though because I was only 8 years old when my parents bought the car and they only owned it for 2 years. That Camaro though had the same exact rims that KITT did but without the black center piece that was specific to just KITT. But the rims on my parents Camaro were silver/metal in color and not black. Because the car only had a 4 cylinder engine in it, the car was totally gutless and couldn’t get out of its own way even if it had wanted too. As a result, in 1984 my parents upgraded Camaro’s. On Halloween night in 1984, (I remember this because 10 year old me got robbed from being able to go out trick or treating with all of my friends because my parents and I were at the car dealership buying the new car.) but that night they traded in the gutless 1982 red Camaro for a fully loaded 1984 Z28 Camaro that was black with gold trim and tan interior that also hat t-tops as well but this one had a 350 V-8 and 5 speed manual transmission. This car would end up being my baby though and I had planned on owning it when I turned 16 and was going to turn it into a Camaro version of KITT because it was black, it had t-tops and the same color tan interior. When I turned 12 my Dad started teaching me how to drive in that car and I fell in love with it. Then in 1987, my parents traded it in for a 1987 Iroc Z28 Camaro that it too was fully loaded, had t-tops as well as a 350 V-8 with this new technology called fuel injection instead of the car being carbureted. The fuel injection was called “Tune Port Injected” or at least that was what one of the stickers on the car said. This car was metallic blue and was definitely a looker. But it was an automatic. And boy was I ever pissed! I fell in love with driving stick and now the car that I learned how to drive in and that I wanted to turn into the Camaro version of KITT was gone. Or so I thought… After my parents bought the Iroc Z28 we all went on vacation. During this time the dealer tried calling our house but we were gone. They tried telling my parents that the financing fell through but the only way to keep the car was to redo the deal at a higher interest rate. In reality, there was never anything wrong. The dealership just wanted to get more money out of my parents. They told them to pound sand and said that they already had signed paperwork of the agreement. In the end my parents could have fought the dealership and won but decided to give them the Iroc back and get the 84’ Z28 back under the condition that the dealership pay GM for 2 months worth of payments and any late fees occurred. The dealership was then super pissed when they saw that the Iroc had about 5,000 miles put on it in 3 weeks time. My parents told them that they were on vacation and were under the belief they owned the car and had every right to put however many miles that they wanted too on the car. The dealership knew they were then going to lose a ton of money on trying to sell the car again, lose my parents as long time customers of the dealership and all of our very large families businesses as well over trying to squeeze an extra 1% to 2% on the interest rate. Oh well, sucks to be them! Then in 1989, tragedy struck. One of my Dad’s cousins had a massive heart attack and died. He and his wife and just bought 2 months prior to his death a brand spanking new, fully loaded 1989 Pontiac Formula Firebird. It was black, fully loaded with t-tops and had every option on it. The widow of my Dads cousin thought she would be unable to make the payments on the car so my parents offered to buy it off of her to which she agreed. But because my parents did not want 2 car payments they sold my beloved 84’ Z28 to a co worker at the bank that my Mom worked at. The lady who bought the car was the adopted Mom of Olympic diver, Gred Louganis. Literally the day after she bought our car and my parents getting ready to get the Firebirds loan switched over to them the widow of my Dads cousin decided that she wanted the car back. And since the car was still in her name there was nothing that my parents could do. This then left them without a car. My parents then went and bought a fully loaded 1989 RS Camaro. It only had a 305 V-8 though but did have a 5 speed manual. My Dad made the dealership put silver/metal looking factory rims on the car though because GM was putting painted rims to match the cars at the time and they looked really stupid! We had that car up until I think 1997 or somewhere around there and I had a lot of great memories in that car. With all of our Camaros throughout the 80’s, and being very familiar with the interior and dash I always wondered where KITT’s voice box was located at? For some reason on the close up shots filmed on the voice box from anytime that KITT talked, I always thought that it was located down by where the stereo would be and not on the center instrument cluster where is actually is. Even to this day, and even though I now know where it is actually located at on those cars my mind still wants to picture it as being down by the stereo location for some reason? Anyway, thank you for this RU-vid channel and giving me the ability to re live my childhood once again and for keeping a few of the Knight Rider vehicles back to original condition all over again. You guys rock and this is very quickly becoming one of my most favorite RU-vid channels to watch!

I suppose it's extra neat that this car was not only used in the show, and even Hasselhoff drove it some, but later also hundreds if not thousands of fans got to experience it too. So it's like both Hollywood and the fans had contact with it. So glad you saved it from destruction

I'm so glad that K.I.T.T. 1994 got a new life and such a happy ending. After making all that money for Universal and they couldn't even be bothered to cover him over. That's gratitude for you. He is now loved and appreciated and definitely belongs with you guys. I'm pleased he has found the right home at last.😀👍🏁

Knight Rider was a big part of my youth great story how 1994 was saved and brought back how it was on the show

It was sad to see the car in that condition. So glad it was saved for future generations to enjoy. 👌👍

Hey Joe, at 11:17 after discussing with my wife, I can confirm that on the left side of the screen that she is standing there next to her brother in the line to hop into KITT. I was also there and can only surmise that I am further to the left off camera as well. You can see a partly red piece of clothing and I believe that was me with my jumper on. You can see this jumper in the photos I have sent you previously. I am astonished to see we were there the day this photo was taken. 💖

I have no idea how you keep thinking of new content, but I absolutely loved this.

Was scrolling through my usual knight rider search and found this. Had to play it on my television. I was glued to my tv. Loved this documentary. I even had most of the pictures I've saved from the knight rider online message board from decades ago when it was in its filthiest and trashed form. Loved the part of the car getting restored the most.

Outstanding story. So awesome that you guys were able to save it from the junkyard. That’s a rarity because most junkyards refuse to sell vehicles as a whole.

Out of most of the episodes, I find this one of the best ones just explaining how this car began it’s life in the Knight Rider series up to almost destroyed and again finding new life, job well done on the story guys 👍🏾👍🏾

thank you joe for preserving this car for the future!

Here in the uk 🇬🇧 we see all the great tv series that’s been filmed over the years from the USA 🇺🇸 and they must be Thousands of Props which just get thrown away which l bet people all over the world would like to own lts great to see you have got this car and restored it so everyone can enjoy it as it was thank you everyone great video stay safe 👏👏👍

Im a huge Knight Rider fan. such a beautiful car. Nothing like it to this day!! Thank you for the video!

Two men can make a difference, thanks Joe and AJ for saving and preserving this car.

I love it! I might have even sat in this very car as a kid at Universal while it was on display. Great work on saving it from destruction! I can't wait to get my replica done...

Seeing the scanner light up and go back and forth still brings a smile after all these long years

the first Night Rider episode i saw was is in 1997 at three years old :) it was on our local channel TV3. loved the theme song and the car from the first moment i saw it :). that station still airs it on popular demand by the fans of the show.

This is amazing, the amount of work it took to get KITT running again. It's sad to see our childhood memories be stored like that. I still remember being on the Universal tour in 94' and seeing the BTTF Delorean's being parked in the backlot (not the one they eventually put on the tour line itself years later, a few of them just in some back parking lot the tram happened to pass) and weren't exactly looking like movie magic. Great to see dedicated fans put their time back to restoring these treasures.

Love the history you guys keep sharing about these cars, I’m still blown away that that’s the car I sat in as a kid in 88 in brizvegas expo88. Thanks guys…👍👍👍

It’s awesome your willing to share Kitt with the world. So many collectors would hide it away in a garage somewhere and it would never see the light of day again.

Wonderful episode Joe and AJ!! It is an absolute disgrace to leave such a fine piece of Television History to rot!!

You guys did an amazing job with this original kitt car. It got me so mad seeing how universal treated this piece of history to waste. Thankfully you guys restored to its rightful state. I’m enjoying all the videos and wanted to say thank you and keep making all these videos. I still geek out like I was that 5 year old seeing this show for the first time.

Awesome documentary! I have an old polaroid I took from the Universal tour that's almost an exact match for the one at 7:03, and that I've treasured forever.

What a tremendous journey it has been indeed!! Thank you KRH for preserving one of the most beloved car superstars in history!! I can only imagine how David Hasselhoff must have felt getting reunited with THE K.I.T.T. after like 20 years. I’m happy for you Joe for having experienced these things…your heart must’ve been in S.P.M. lol!! :-)

I can't thank you enough for such devotion to my favourite television show when I was growing up.

I wish studios had more foresight into the future and did not view their filming inventory as disposable throw away garbage. So many sets, props, vehicles, and wardrobe items from historic film and television were just thrown away after their productions ended. KITT #1994 was on his way to being just a another screen used piece lost to history. Thankfully you guys came to the rescue.

1994 probably has more personal contact with women than David to this day. I think I was passing through north of Vegas in 2010 and saw your property not knowing it was KITT. The trailer and tarp wrap definitely looks familiar.

What a fascinating story! All this time, I never realized that the car was in a really terrible condition after the show ended. But, I am thankful that you took all the time and effort to restore this car to its former glory. If KITT was actually real, I think he would say : "After what I've been through, a little publicity might help reinforce my self image." - Junk Yard Dog (Season 3, Episode 14) Also, I would love to see this car for real and maybe take it for a test drive someday. Thank you very much, Knight Rider Historians. You all never cease to amaze me. ❤️❤️❤️

Thanks for sharing. I know it's show business, but I find it impossible to believe that the studio was just going to destroy or leave the show cars to rot away. Also, the latest Hot Wheels game has KITT in game, and also sounds like they have screen accurate SFX while racing. Hot Wheels Unleashed.

The work you guys do is simply amazing. It's awesome that the show so many of us loved as kids is alive and well in so many ways on your channel. It's beyond cool that you guys saved that car. Really appreciate the Knight Rider Historians.

I love how you restored KITT back !!!!

Wow,, I'm in awwwh.. I had no idea it ended up in a junkyard. I do remember someone claiming to have the Knight Rider rims from an Original Knight Rider car and I remember them asking over $2000 with documentation. I'm so glad you got there in time to save it from the Crusher.. Glad you fixed it up and put it back to its glory days. I'm a huge lover of your channel and all you do.. I have my 1982 Pontiac Trans Am and trying to make a replica like yours.. hopefully one day..

WOW. Just wow. Hats off to you for all the work you've done. I just can't believe what happened to 1994.

WOW! I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THIS 1994 KITT MODEL HAS ENDURED SO MANY YEARS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT.. IM SO GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL GLORY AND KITT DESERVES YOU SO MUCH...😢😢😢 Im 49 and i still remembers all the adventures of this Iconic car. Thank you so much..

Really great that this car has been saved and restored to this very good condition!

Big thanks for sharing this! Much respect for the lengths you guys have went to save this car!!!

This is superb. I watched the Jay Leno video on here then found this one. What a story. So much hard work. Congratulations to all involved. The car looks superb. I’m shocked it was left to rot and nearly got crushed!

Marvelous documentary. I appreciate the efforts you guys have done and are still doing. Knight Rider is the main reason why I own a '82 Trans Am. I loved the show since I was 5 years of age and I still do. Michael Knight and KITT were my all time childhood heroes. I keep learning so many interesting things to learn about the show and the cars. Again, I really appreciate the hard work you guys have done so far. Thank you very much.

I know u hear it all the time probably, but it’s truly amazing seeing kitt restored and seeing the history being told behind the cars and show.. amazing job! Especially this documentary.. thank u for what u do and for sharing with the rest of us fans!!

Thanks for saving this incredible vehicle from the crusher. Long live KITT for many generations to come

Thats vry nice of you joe to give a brief history about your screen used kitt and how you got that car back from the dead. Iam a die hard knight rider fan and I see your stuff it's really cool joe my friend. I really respect you and I hope to meet you in the coming time joe for pics with kitt . Your fan and friend. Wasim england UK

That was fantastic I really enjoyed that ,I bet you couldn't believe your luck finding such an icon in the scrap yard. You have done a fantastic job restoring KITT and looking forward to seeing what is done onn the 40th anniversary

After watching this documentary, I was glad to see KITT redo to its original glory and that there is someone to look after KITT. I have watched all the ninety episodes and remember each and every one of them. I have fond memories with the Knight Rider show and it reminds me of my teen age. As I am a great car enthusiast and the cars are literally inside my blood stream as I being the owner of an old classic Vauxhall Victor which is the greatest obsessions of my life

Neat to have the whole history, glad the historians saved it. There's a replica near Winnipeg here I saw at a car show a month ago, very well done to now that I know the details of the cars. Saw it today on the highway, looked neat with the scanner going. A black TA sure stands out next to all the ovoid jellybean mobiles on the road now. I think the black wheel covers are what set it off the most at a distance.

So grateful you guys are saving iconic history!

Great job, gentlemen! The entire history of the car, fragments of which could be seen on the Internet, is collected in one film. You've done a very good job of saving this important part of my childhood. I am touched! Thank you with all my heart!

Excellent work. I am so glad you recovered and preserved the car. And about those public appearances - you think that maybe you could bring it down here to Florida? I'd love a chance to see it in person.

Joe - excellent presentation and documentation of one of the original KITT cars from the Knight Rider tv show. Looking forward to the next one ☝️

A trip back down memory lane, has a child who grew up following knight rider on TV and tried to see a copy of kitt in my home town but unfortunately being disabled i could not keep up, find it difficult to walk some days even my son asked the owner who drove off to wait a few minutes so his dad could see KITT and experience the childhood memories. A big thank you to you guys for creating this channel and may be one day i see KITT before i leave this world.

Truly exciting to watch and learn of the history of the car and how it was brought back. (Just like how it was brought back in some of the episodes) Thanks for sharing.

That,s so cool that that car was saved and redone and saved. I would love to see real kitt car one day .love the show have all 4 seasons on dvd

That's background music from Mouth of The Snake 1:35! David's theme. Amazing! Joe, you are awesome!!👍

Thank you knight rider historians! For saving this iconic car! Love your work that you guys do to collect and save vehicles and props! In the series

Been waiting for this since forever. Thank you so much guys. I'm looking forward to a similar video on your other screen used KITT.

_Thank you_ for everything you guys have done to save these two cars. I’m sure I speak for every child of the 80s around the world who felt KITT was his best friend once a week, when I say how much it means to us and our childhoods.

Thanks for sharing the history of this screen used car. It's great to see that some of these wonderful cars are getting much needed love and attention.

Wow!! An amazing video !!words can't express how awesome this is.Kudos Joe and A.J.for your saving this original screen used k.i.t.t. from (gulp)the salvage yard.because of you two 1994 will be seen by many and I am looking forward to see your future plans.The Jay Leno appearance and good morning America were great and hopefully there will be many more chapters to come in this cars history.Thanks so much for sharing this with us!!😀😀😀👍👍👍

Awesome video! Thanks for making this documentary. It was amazing that you were able to save this piece of Americana.

Bravo guys. Just utterly fascinating to see and learn at what this car has gone over the years 👍👍

Every time RU-vid suggests your videos... my first thought is always "How do you keep making content about a TV show that happened 37+ years ago!?!?" The creators of Knight Rider should be happy people like you are still keeping tghe memory of their show alive.

Great video! Coming up on the 10th anniversary of KITT’s arrival in PA this week, good timing too.

Watching this episode, yes, this episode with all the soundtrack was great. Really great.

That was Fantastic! Awesome job bros, that was so close to the crusher for practically no reason!

Wow Joe, I knew you had to do a lot of work, but I didn't realize how bad the car was when you got it. I'm glad to see the kudos you received for all your hard work.

This has to be the best thing I have ever seen! God bless you guys! Saving my childhood hero’s ❤️

Absolutely love it. Your examination of the car, the level of details and research is really amazing. When archeology and art merges in harmony.

I've seen one of the on set cars in the UK in 1994 at a car show but I'm not sure which one it was! The A-team van and dukes of hazard general Lee dodge charger was also there i was only 11 years old but what an experience to see these TV set cars! Great story of the preservation of this original TV set car i would love to come and see it in the USA.🤠

I’m going to do everything I can to go to the 40th anniversary southern knights Atlanta show with my replica. Just maybe 1994 will be there and make my dreams come true

Joe been watching these videos for awhile now. This was one of the best. I really enjoyed the history of Kitt. I hope to meet you at one of the public events. Thank you for restoring tv history 👍 Good work brother!

Thanks for preserving this legendary car.

A good friend of mine had an Uncle that worked for GM on the special projects team at Mesa AZ. He was in charge of the Smoky and the Bandit cars as well as the Night Rider cars for the show. They were not just taken off the assembly lines, they had a lot of work done at the AZ proving grounds before being sent to Universal Studios. It was great listening to him talk about tv shows, pace cars and movie vehicles that his team was involved with.

When I was a kid Knight Rider was my favorite show, I had a black jacket similar to Michael Knight's, and a Knight Rider Big Wheels that I rode around till the wheels fell off. I got in some very spirited arguments with the other kids in the neighborhood about how Knight Rider was better than Airwolf.

You know watching the show as a kid I always thought it was only 1 car, I had no idea so many cars were used, I like them all as they all KITT!

Epic Episode guys 👍👍👍. 🇩🇪🇩🇪. I had no idea that the car was in so bad condition. It was a little bit heart broken to see it in that shape it was. Great Job 👏👍👍

This almost made me cry by happiness...

I was lucky enough as a kid that I got to sit in the car at Universal and ask Kitt some questions. I took loads of photos so I could piece the dash together when I later developed them. I remember that perspex was fitted in front of all the buttons to stop people playing with them.

The car being rescued literally from the junk yard seems like divine providence. So glad it gets to live the cream puff retirement life. 😁

Brings me tears of joy and happiness! Imagine if this car had vanished...

This is so amazing! Just saying, I'll travel miles to see 1994 in person!! Thank you for doing this great service for the community.

I possibly sat in the car back in 1989 at Universal Studios. I remember talking with it and being blown away! So rad!

For me a very emotional video. It's amazing what this car went through. Nice that you take care of K.I.T.T. now. Thank you very much.

Sorry I have not been on... I hurt my leg and with the weather changing.. I have been on the down... I have not forgotten you... You do the best work in preserving this show and the props...

This is one of the best of the videos to date - bar the Not a Director's Cut ones. Love those. Never knew what bad shape it was in when you rescued it. You sort of see it as a screen used car and assume it was found similar to that. Not virtually gutted. Surprised to hear David only had a few minutes for you and Al, considering one might expect him to ask more about the car. When you got it, the condition. If he remembered it and so on. I know one might say "it was just another job", but not to him. That's the job (plus Baywatch) that he still, with respect, 'feeds' on for his lifestyle. As well as much of course (which I have been a fan of for a long time). Alas I am in the UK, so doubt I will ever really get a chance to see it for real. But have seen many replicas here at shows. Tho this was a long time ago. Best time ever was with meeting Catherine Hickland too. Such a lovely generous lady. Oh, and met Michael S. then too. Lovely man. So generous with his time. All the best to you all.

19:43 "And immediately planned a trip to visit it." More like planned a trip to RESCUE it lol

I really want to know, how did it feel when you drove kitt again after so long since it had last driven? It's truly heartbreaking to see kitt left to rot for so long but that must have been such a special moment.

I thought that your car was the Hero car, not a stunt car. I haven't watched all your videos yet, so that's been my thoughts watching a handful of them. Still a very amazing bit of history. When the show aired in Australia, around 1982, I was 11 years old and would watch the show religiously. I have fond memories of growing up in the 80's with this show among many others, especially when Back to The Future came out. Those were the best years of my life ! Thanks for an amazing look at this treasure. I can see your passion for this project oozing all over it. Great stuff !

The birthday hat cracked me up haha.

This was so fascinating I shared it on my Facebook so my friends can watch it too

I had no idea that car today was rescued in that condition and only just rescued on time. No words for the effort and awesomeness of saving it and restoring to this condition!!!!!

All that trouble baking a cake for KITT, and they couldn't bother making it screen accurate. Wire wheels on the cake? Where did KITT wear those? LOL. Thanks for the video and sharing your rare car with us.

Big like for this video, thank you for sharing and taking time out to make these contents. It’s so nice to see unseen footage and photos amazing thank you 🙂

Now that’s a cool video. Really do love videos like this showing the detail of the resto and the level of care you have given 1994. Thank you

Fantastic video!!this was so interesting and just a joy to watch....what a life this car has had,and will continue to have all thanks to Joe and AJ...and it now has a special place in my heart,as I have a peice of his actual tyre in my bookcase...look forward to a special on your other car guys...

I never understood the odd Universal Studio display setup, with the front of the car hanging over water (it's not like KITT was always going amphibious), leaving people unable to get a good look at the front of it - and it just dawned on me, perhaps that was all to keep people from trying to steal the scanner? There was also no mention of the swapping in of vinyl seats since they, um, "weathered" the crowd better :)

Awesome documentary guys ! I really enjoyed watching this !

Wow the history of that car is insane

What you guys are doing is so awesome….with the cars AND with the truck!