Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

KITT Wannabe: 1986 Pontiac Firebird

kitt1

For work, I recently attended the local showing of the Comic Con festival, where my employer was a sponsor. I had never been to this show but heard and seen plenty; consider me surprised when I saw a cadre of interesting movie and TV car replicas on display! Although there were plenty of well-known vehicles on the show floor, I didn’t spot a KITT replica – so maybe I should buy this example here on eBay and take my spot on the Comic Con circuit.

kitt2

OK – I’m not actually going do to that. But after speaking with the owners of a replica Herbie the Love Bug, a replica Back to the Future DeLorean and of course, the original Batmobile, it did show me there’s an entire other world of car enthusiasts that rally around their favorite vehicles from the big screen. This Pontiac Firebird is said to be a mixture of Knight Rider gadgets from a few seasons, so it’s not necessarily authentic – but it sure does look like fun!

kitt4

If you grew up watching the show like I did, it was hard not to be mesmerized by the colorful buttons, sounds and shapes KITT was capable of performing. The seller of this low-mileage Firebird mentions that the car has some of the more desirable attributes of the TV car from multiple seasons, including the POD and fully-functional upper console. It also features the trick “black out” button which dims the dash with just one push. There are some tacky LED items the current owner has added, which I would quickly remove.

kitt3

Perhaps the most recognizable feature is in the top photo, with the red LED beam that streaked across KITT’s hood. It also has the ability to make the unmistakable swooshing noise KITT would emit, or the sound of a jet engine firing up to create the illusion of speeds that the actual car likely couldn’t achieve. There’s just one catch: the seller barely mentions the fact that the ‘Bird needs a distributor, which I guess means it doesn’t run. How very un-KITT like!

Comments

  1. Avatar Cleric

    Maybe I can go on the comic con circuit within an El Camino that looks like the one on “My Name is Earl.”

    Like 1
  2. Avatar Mr. TKD

    Let’s see a KITT in Super Pursuit mode.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Vegas vic

    Bandit Trans Am far cooler than Kitt

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Abbs

    The one I’m surprised few people try to replicate is karr which would be a great compliment to kitt. And the other one would also be goliath… It would be a knight rider fan dream to see kitt and his major enemies all in one spot! Thing is, I don’t know if George barrios had a hand in karr and goliath.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Rock On

    Worked with a guy when this show was on that could have been the Hoff’s twin. When he wore his black leather jacket to the mall, kids would come up to him and call him Michael. Yes, he always had a date on Friday night.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar 4-Doors-for-my-Tuba

    Just another Kitt car?

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Dan h

    Great job on the interior! I would have died and gone to heaven if I saw that car in person as a kid!

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Rolf Poncho 455

    vegas vic I agree bandit far better

    Like 0
    • Avatar DAN

      shows non bandit early model pic,lol

      Like 0
  9. Avatar Rob

    Where are the bowling ball wheel covers? C’mon man!

    Like 0
    • Avatar DAN

      yup,bb covers,lol

      Like 0
    • Avatar Vin in NJ

      Where is the blacked out tail panel?

      Like 0
  10. Avatar DAN

    928s had phone dials nick name,lol

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Biggyinn

    Kitt in the show had a nall velure champaign colored interior , black seats are WRONG and a few other epic fails

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Car Guy

    The black out taillight panel on the TV car looked like a piece of smoked lexan. This one really needs the black button wheel covers but those may be hard to source. Also this car has the late model Pontiac lower skirting instead of the much smaller skirting of the TV car. At least it has lots and lots of buttons to push!

    Like 0
  13. Avatar smittydog

    All those electronics and they can’t manage a distributor?

    Like 0

Leave a Reply to Vegas vic Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.