Many would have forgotten Knight Rider if it weren't for two things, David Hasselhoff and K.I.T.T., a modified Pontiac Trans Am. An acronym for Knight Industries Two Thousand, the black Pontiac is one of Television's classic cars. K.I.T.T acts as Hasselhoff's co-star and sidekick for his adventures as former police officer Michael Knight.
Canonically the car saw modification capable of accelerating to 60 miles per hour in around 2 seconds. It also finishes the quarter-mile in 4.4 seconds. Most importantly, the car has the K.I.T.T microprocessor, which can drive the car, take it through death-defying stunts, and save the day. In reality, for the show, the Pontiac started out with only three modifications. The first, a small red strobe light on the front bumper that would indicate when the car was talking. Secondly, a fighter jet-like interior with a yoke-inspired steering wheel. Lastly, an ingenious system for stunt drivers to be undetectable.
The Pontiac Trans Am has a secret: how the team behind the show were able to make the car move on its own.
This Is How K.I.T.T Drove Itself
One man built classic movie and TV cars like the legendary Batmobile and K.I.T.T. In preparation for 1982's first season of Knight Rider, Universal Studios approached George Barris with a brief for the car. Before CGI, stunts relied on practical effects and often demanded only one take. While David Hasselhoff may have numerous talents including acting, singing, and ushering in freedom on the Berlin Wall. To ask him to drive the car's stunts would be unreasonable and risk the star of the show. A stunt driver had to be in the car but not seen on camera.
In Barris's 1996 book, he reveals how his team achieved this. The Trans Am saw a right-hand drive conversion. This new driving position was low down in the car. This meant the stunt driver was not on camera with the dashboard in the way. A stunt driver then hides in the modified seat and can see a little over the dashboard.
What Could K.I.T.T Do?
A harrowing aspect of Knight Rider is how K.I.T.T talks. The car is a 1980s vision of what AI or computers could become, it has a personality. At one point, K.I.T.T is nearly destroyed and goes through a series of tests to prove he is fully repaired. Hasselhoff drives the car at a wood wall as a final test, they come to a halt as K.I.T.T disobeys the driver's right foot. This sounds remarkably like modern autonomous driving modes.
The comparison with a modern vehicle is not undue. In 2018 Jay Leno hosted one of the K.I.T.T cars used in the show. Leno makes a point of the car's old CRT TV in the dashboard. In the show, it makes video calls. Angled at the driver, it has an interesting similarity with modern infotainment systems.
When looking at the interior, Leno notices all of K.I.T.T's driving modes. These include Normal Cruise, Auto Cruise, and Pursuit. With the option of Turbo Boost, an oil slick and hydraulic lift to get K.I.T.T through each episode. Leaning into the aeronautical inspiration, Barris included a compass. The interior is incredibly different from the regular Trans Am which took plenty of parts from the General Motor's parts bin.