Knight Rider

KITT, the Knight Industries Two-Thousand, was a customised 1982 Pontiac Trans-Am. The 1982 model year was the first year of the third-generation (1982-1992) F-bodies (Chevrolet's Camaro and Pontiac's Firebird share the same platform), and was a complete redesign of the second-generation (see Smokey and the Bandit (1977) for a 2nd-gen Trans-Am).

Glen A. Larson borrowed the idea of K.I.T.T.'s hood mounted scanner from one of his earlier projects, 'Battlestar Galactica'. The Cylon Centurions in that series had an almost identical scanner that functioned as eyes, and Larson adapted the idea for K.I.T.T.

Pontiac, who supplied the Trans Am for the series, found itself swamped with customer requests for black Firebird Trans Ams with T-tops, tan interiors, and red lights on the front bumper, just like the show car.

Pontiac, who supplied the Trans Am for the series, found itself swamped with customer requests for black Firebird Trans Ams with T-tops, tan interiors, and red lights on the front bumper, just like the show car.

David Hasselhoff and William Daniels (voice of K.I.T.T.) meet on the Christmas party after six months filming the season. Until that point, Hasselhoff hadn't seen the face behind the voice of the car.

David Hasselhoff and William Daniels (voice of K.I.T.T.) meet on the Christmas party after six months filming the season. Until that point, Hasselhoff hadn't seen the face behind the voice of the car.

Super-Pursuit Mode was introduced as a means of retaining viewers for a fourth season.

You never see a long shot of KITT changing into Super Pursuit Mode, since KITT is not moving at all. A shell of KITT's body was used when filming the transition to Super Pursuit Mode, since large hydraulic rams were needed to articulate the body panels, and there was no room for an engine or running gear in the car.

The narrator of the show's opening credits was Richard Basehart who played dying benefactor Wilton Knight in the pilot episode, "Knight Rider: Knight of the Phoenix (#1.1)" (1982).

Throughout Season 1, there is another car that appears regularly besides the Knight Industries Two Thousand and Devon's Mercedes-Benz convertible. It is a red 1974 (or thereabouts) AMC Gremlin X, possibly one of the crew's personal vehicles. It was never used in a "supporting" role, but only as a vehicular "extra", usually driving away from the camera.

In many of KITT's jump scenes, the screen jumps to another angle (such as Michael driving) before landing. This is because more often than not, the front end of the stunt car is totalled upon landing.

The character of Michael Knight was originally known as Michael Long before undergoing reconstructive surgery on his face and joining Knight Industries.

K.A.R.R. (the evil Trans Am) stood for "Knight Automated Roving Robot".

According to Car & Driver Magazine, K.I.T.T. was originally intended to be a modified Datsun 280ZX, but General Motors' recently introduced F-Body Firebird Trans Am was substituted in pre-production.

K.I.T.T. was referred to as a "Black Trans Am" in early episodes of the first season, then later simply as a "Black T-Top" for the rest of the series' run.