I sat in KITT at Universal Studios Hollywood sometime in 1986. I didn't want to get out, and when my parents were shooing me out of the car, I yelled back "I love you KITT!", and KITT responded that he loved me too. I have never forgotten that, so thanks to whoever that employee was. For a six-year-old kid, the whole experience was mind blowing.
It's wild to know that some children sat in a screen used KITT without knowing it, shame how it rotted away in a back lot but great to hear it is in a good shape now, including the dash too
I worked at Universal Studios Hollywood back in 1993 and my friend and coworker was one of the people that voiced KITT. They were located in a little shack right near the hanging Jaws shark display. I went in there a couple of times to see him in action. It was pretty cool but by that time the interest in KR had dwindled and the lines to see KITT wasn’t as long as in previous years (when I visited as a paying customer instead of an employee).
Did You Know Jeff Samford ? , I used to help him Detail K.I.T.T.When he was in charge of it , . and I learned the hard way about the mike's all around it. I was working under the dash to clean out some trash some one had stuffed under there ( too lazy to go to the trash can I guess) . any way I snagged my hand on a piece of hanging metal and I was cussing a blue streak ,when one of the Attendants came running over and said " MAN THEY CAN HEAR YOU ALL OVER THE AREA!! .Luckily for me I used to do my work on K.I.T.T. before the park was officially opened so no one heard me except for the nearby workers setting up for the day.. Here is my You tube link if you are interested to see what it takes to Detail a Car over water Enjoy!! Jake ruclips.net/video/twWVvMtnHi0/видео.html
I sat inside when I was 5 years old, in 1984, but not at Universal Studios. It was at a Theme park in Houston, Texas called Hana-Barbara Land. This Kitt had a recorded message from William Daniel's, the voice of Kitt, playing. So you couldn't actually talk to it. Also, it had the dashboard of the first two seasons. I still have the photo.
I might not own the real KITT car, but I do own a RC KITT car from back in the day and I still enjoy playing with it as an adult. It talks just like KITT from the original television show and has the red scanner in front. KITT is my favorite television car of all time. 😊
Saw the 'Expo 88' car languishing by the maintenance building in August 2007, zoomed my camera from the upper lot to get a picture. I always wondered what the story was for that car. Now I know, glad to see it has been saved, thanks for sharing the details of these cars.
Yeah, I remember sitting into one at 1985 Carl Casper Auto Show here in Louisville, ky. Plain awesome til I over heard Kitt's voicebox, it wasn't William Daniel's voice so I asked one of the security guards there and he said they couldn't get him to voice the car for it which made me really sad but then again , probably would't pay for him to stay at a premium hotel here just like Dukes of Hazzard wouldn't pay for all the actors to stay here with the General Lee. Still I wish I could have pressed one of the buttons on the pods to see if one of the dash readouts would lighten further or AT least pushed the surveillance mode button or turned it to see that dash light really light up because I read in a JC Whitney catalog that they could pick up anything within 1/4 a mile away.
It was man, it was so awesome. Took my son to the Orlando one last year. It’s so much different. Back to the future Jaws and Kong being gone really sucks. They had ET still which is still so amazing.
It WAS awesome in the 80’s. I was a YMCA summer camp kid (North Hollywood) and we went to Universal every year 🥰✨where you could see Jaws, Knight Rider, The A-Team van, the Psycho house, a western themed shootout with live stunt men, and King Kong had sweet banana breath…❤ and I don’t recall it ever being very crowded, maybe a little in the front as you walked in. At Magic Mountain you could ride Colossus over and over and wear yourself out on rides with short lines. Then there was Knott’s Berry Farm, the LA Zoo, trips to Zuma…🤍☀️🌊
I remember back in the late 80s after the series was done in the states Knight Rider was premiering in Puerto Rico. During this time there was a variety show called Super Sabado(Super Saturday) and they had David Hasselhoff as a guest and a talking KITT. They were promoting the show and a world's expo like show in Puerto Rico. I remember the talking car's scanner lit up in 3 spots, the corners and the center and the speaker was behind the driver seat. I also remember my great aunt and uncle went to the world expo like event was scratched up and had some dents.
Oh no!! I wished they never took the display down ! I would of loved to have seen it at Universal Studios! I don't know why they took it down Knight Rider is a big part of television history!!
I went to Universal Studios in the summer of 1996. I was 15. I went with some family I was visiting and at one point I was given money to go get something to eat. As I walked alone looking for some food I wanted I heard KITT's scanner in the distance. I was like whhhhaaa.. and I started following the sound. I soon found him sitting on that lake and I was able to walk right up to him and sit down in the driver's seat. It was a hell of an experience. I had no idea he was there. If they had not had the audio for his scanner going I would have never known he was there. No one was in a booth talking at that time. I wasn't able to hang out in him to long because my family was expecting me back soon. But I remember the gas pedal was bolted down or something. It wouldn't move. That was something that stuck with me. I can happily say I sat in that car. To bad it wasn't one that was actually screen used like they made us think. But according to this video the dash was.. and that is pretty cool.
Danke für diese tolle Aufklärung. Meine Onkel war1984 in Universal Studio,und erzählte uns davon in Deutschland, undbi v war so fasziniert. Danke eu v für diese tolle Dokumentation
Thank You for this. I begged my parents for years and years to get to go to Universal Studios to see KITT, and never got to go. Now adult me is so underwhelmed with all the details youve shown. But young me would have been thrilled, but I NEVER would have wet my pants LOL. The surviving theme park car can be seen on Jay Lenos Garage here on youtube. A close up look at the dash shows just how lame it was in real life.
Was there back in summer of '94, awe struck sitting in this car. Guess they retired this site afterwards as Universal is always expanding and exploring new ideas for the public.
I worked at World Expo 88 and walked past the KITT display nearly every day. I was/still am a big fan of the show and managed to "sneak" a few photos with KITT before opening time to avoid the crowds. Unfortunately, I never got to meet the guy who voiced the car - he was always in the tower getting ready for the visitors. I must try to find those photos and send them to you guys. Thank you so much for this history - I always wondered if it was a "real" KITT used on the show and now I know. :-) Some time later (I can't remember how long it was after EXPO), there was a KITT on display in a suburban shopping center in Brisbane (Chermside). I've got a photo of it somewhere too, I wonder if it was the same vehicle? Thank you Knight Rider Historians for all your hard work putting these videos together. I'm slowly making my way through them and I'm enjoying them all very much!
Thanks so much, Vanessa! We would LOVE to see those photos if you find them. To answer your other question, that was a different, non screen used KITT at the shopping center.
I attend the car back in Universal Studios in 1995. Unfortunately the car was closed, the doors locked and they put plexiglas in the sidewindows. My dad shot some footage of the car and had taken some pictures. Will look for them.
i believe one of those two cars was used on the set of war of the worlds. i saw the delorean and the second kitt car behind the maintenance shack for a couple years. ( i always wanted to purchase them but i was not connected enough) i will be at Universal this coming Thursday and will walk the backlot and ask the maintenance people to see if they know anything about the 1st car.
I was born in 1982.. so was only a child when this was out but in the early 90s is when i discovered it and fell in love with the show.. huge fan now! Devasted i never got to see any of these cars in person.. Doesnt help im not in the USA.. still to see these photos is great.. but the story of how they ended up (except 1) is saddening.
Went to Universal Studios in 1997 as part of a family trip to California. Was really excited to see KITT on the lot, got to sit in him and had my dad take my picture both inside the car and outside. I will look for them and send them in to you via email.
Another awesome/informative video guys. I finally managed to get to Universal Studios in 2012. - Saw the 2 Fast 2 Furious Skyline, but would have paid extra money to have seen KITT.😔
I was there in July of 1992. Still have the picture and I also remember tapping my fingers somewhere on the dashboard and was told (by K.I.T.T) "Don't knock on me, I'm not a door." Awesome! 😁 (Clear windshield, no fog light grilles)
That was very interesting and great to know, over in England I was one of those kids who got overly excited over knight Rider intro good job I didn't get a chance to sit in these replicas.🤣
It was 1986, and my parents took me to this very attraction. I remember wondering how they got the car onto the little pylons in the water. I don't remember what me and KITT talked about but I do remember he actually said hello and used my name. Best trip ever.
I sat in the Theme Park replica car....as an adult....Ill never forget it. Must have been one of the last fans to sit in it over the water. It was 1997. As for popularity....the line was long all day. Took me 15 minutes for my turn. Not a long wait...but there was always a line...all day long.
I sat in KITT as a kid with my Brother and asked where was Michael and he said he was at home watching the Rose Parade and we thought it was so cool because it was New Years Day.
hallo sir.. in 1985 kitt was in south africa for 3 weeks. i was there and sit in kitt as a 6 year old boy.. was so awsome.. best memory of myne for that year.. johannesburg easter show in march 1985. ..
Only recently found you guys and ive loved going through your channel. I deal in race used Formula 1 car parts, but my god, a screen used part from K.I.T.T would top all of them!
I had the privilege of sitting in this car and living the dream. Universal Studios Hollywood had it on display back in the 90’s and it was a dream come true.
Awesome insights. I remember seeing the pictures of the KITT-exhibit and so much wanting to go there, but it never became more than a distant dream. Who knows if I would have had an “accident” sitting in him. Luckily I’ve had no “accidents” in my KITT-replica.
Also as a kid i would take the bus to universal studios just to see KITT and who else remembers "the wild wild west show". i saw kitt go from a shiny black trans am to an abandoned relic parked in a walkway with the windows spray painted. (i might have pics of that somewhere)
Great video with good details! I visited this car many times at the park. I wish they would create a retro prop plaza and bring it back along with the A- team van you could lift.
I remember seeing the second car at universal I believe in 1990. I was a little disappointed because the car was looking pretty worn but still was a treat to see it! Somewhere I think I still may have pictures of it. If I can locate them I would be happy to send them to you for the historical record.
Major props to this channel. They could actually get the true voice of K.I.T.T. (William Daniels) to do the opening of a lot of their videos on this channel. Universal Studios couldn't even get William Daniels to voice their K.I.T.T. (and OMG it showed).
Yeah, to have a voice actor like Daniels even record a spot...I believe SAG would require him to be paid per use, and even if it’s not the original full amount, it’s perpetual. So whereas advertising covers this on TV, the park would have to foot the bill.
I remember sitting in kitt. Never know it was a screen used car until today. My parents still have my picture, I was the happiest 8 year old in the world lol
Great video, it's nice how you've got some footage of these, I hope you get sent more. Unfortunately I got to universal years to late in 2017 😢 Did visit the Sepulveda dam to make up for it.
I still have the picture of me in KITT at Universal, I just looked at it just now. Great moment BUT...Kit never spoke! At least not what I remember (we're going back a few years now though!) Maybe his batteries were recharging! Also, underneath the Knight Rider sign by the car in my picture is a Goodyear sign that they had placed underneath it.
If this attraction had been at the Orlando theme park, I'd have visited it and had multiple pictures taken in it. I'm a huge Knight Rider fan from way back. I watched energy episode of the series whenever it was on. #80Baby
Theres pictures somewhere of my brother and I around 7 years old sitting in that car at Universal Hollywood. I distinctly remember asking KITT why his front wheels were in the water? I dont remember the answer. I also remember being kinda disappointed that I couldnt find the panel with the pulsing "voice" lights. I do remember finding the "turbo boost" button
There's probably a photo of me at 8 in this car (or next to it) at Universal Studios when we went to the US with my parent in 1992. I remember seeing it, the first time in my life for real. That was amazing. I saw another KITT in France a few years later I think in a mall. I can't tell if it was a very good replica or a genuine touring car but it was great anyway to see it again. The first car I bought when I arrived in Canada was a Firebird (1992 Formula, I would have preferred an 1984 trans-am but it was out of my budget at the time). I kept it about 1 year, I had checked that line on my bucket list :)
So cool to hear the history of the Knight Rider vehicles I was lucky to see one twice here in California at the Avalon Tire and Wheel Montebello they were working on a KIT Trans Am as well as A-team Van. I was trying to post pictures, but couldn't find how to do that on this link
That Pontiac Transam was a fake Knight Rider car. Now before you care to debate me, I f you had a car that was valued at over 250,000 (per Universal's claim) that you spent 250,000 on, would you care to simply take it a regular wheel shop for repairs knowing they would ask you are there any non-factory sensors along the aluminum wheel or tire that I should know of because I can't guarantee those other sensors won't be damaged.
If you've ever been to Avalon personally, you would see that they have many movie cars that they work on the electrical. Including a beautiful classic 1.4 million dollar Mercedes Gullwing
Great video - as always. I‘d like to ask, if there are any behind the scenes images or even videos from that soundstage at Universal Studios. I guess it would be very interesting to see what their setup there was and how they filmed it.
I have always wanted to see KITT and sit in KITT as a kid and as an adult. But I have never gotten the chance to do so. I still hope and dream one day I will.
Come to Atlanta there's a boatload of replicas there ever year for you to sit in. if one of the owners is cool with it. I just started working on mine when it is done I will let people sit and play in it.
Cool. Would have been nice. But never got to go there since it's too far from the east coast. I remember pics from MCK's ads in Kit Car Magazine didn't have the arrows over the lights. I did get to meet Bill Gibson's Christine 58 Plymouth and took a pic with her.
I was at World Expo 88 and did get a chance to sit in the screen used KITT.. I remember asking as I was 11 years ago at the Time were's Michael Knight haha...
In March of 1984 our family took a trip to Disneyland in California, and the next day we went to Universal. My 5 year old ADORED Kitt on tv, and was wearing his Mickey Mouse ears hat as he hopped about while waiting in the line to see the car. When I followed him out that long walkway (or so it suddenly seemed when I realized it was a barely 5 year old I had let walk out there alone with water all around it) Kitt started singing 'M-i-c-k-e-y M-o-u-s-e' and then went on to sing the whole Mickey Mouse Club song to him. My son, normally shy, was completely enchanted and would have gladly spent all day sitting in the car talking to his new 'best friend' as he told me Kitt had said they were. From what I could hear, standing beside the door, whoever was talking to my little boy did a FINE and WONDERFUL job of imitating the TV voice... which of course, enchanted me, his mother. Its become one of my most cherished memories of my kid's childhoods, and became the highlight of that entire vacation! Now, some nearly 40 years later, it is the only part of that entire trip I vividly remember in every detail. Thank you to whoever was on 'KITT duty' that day!!!
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial No, unfortunately the car being set with the front part out over the water and the size of the dry circle the rest of it sat on didn't exactly lend itself easily to pictures. And besides, I had quickly handed my husband the 3 month old baby and took off after my kid who was now running to meet his automotive hero. My son couldn't swim at all and I wasn't quite sure he wouldn't go a bit too far trying to see Kitt's scanner in the front. (You never know with 5 year olds. Better not leave such things to chance) That was the one time I really did wish the Park had one of those photo things where it takes your picture somehow while you are on a ride and then you can decide if you want to buy the picture before you leave the park. It would have been so cool, as even I saw how great the dashboard looked and the interior of the car in general. The seat didn't even show wear on that day and was definitely the same cloth as the other seats. It would have been such a FANTASTIC picture, but only a video could have captured Kitt singing the Mickey Mouse song, which got my son now running towards the car. Best picture we had was of my son with his MM ears on, standing next to the railing way on the other side of the 'lagoon' that Kitt's little 'island' extended out into. You could kinda see a very blurry black car in the background, but this was in the day of person adjusted focus buttons on cameras, and my husband focused it on my son, not the things far behind him.
I was in it sometime in the 80s at universal studios, it could have been just before 86, or slightly after 86. My mother did take photos, but those have been lost, so I wouldn't be able to say exactly when.
Do you know what exactly happened to the original theme park car? That was basically a brand new 83 Trans Am that never got driven. Did it get sold or do you have evidence that it got destroyed? Looking forward to watching more of these!
All were crushed per Universal Studio's demand as they owned them all. Any fakes(per the thousand's proclaimed) untold. Want to retrace then have to have VI N no. at a cost!
@@wesdionne278 It won't shock you to learn that in its debut year, demand was very high for Pontiac's hottest sports car. This meant NBC could only get four cars to do Knight Rider's entire first season. Then, they got lucky. In 1983, a car transporter derailed in California, and although the cars were fine, GM sold 10-12 Firebirds off that train to the studio for a dollar each, with the condition that they had to be destroyed once the cameras stopped rolling. Universal honored that request by dropping a wrecking ball on them, but not before buying another six cars to ensure Super Pursuit Mode could be a thing
@@raymondcanessa7208 HI Raymond, As some one who used to work with K.I.T.T. at Universal Check out this link ruclips.net/video/twWVvMtnHi0/видео.html It Never made any sense to me at all why they Had to Destroy Perfectly Good Cars . I would have definitely worked out something to save those cars had I known about it at the Time , I used to voice my Concern about this to Ernest Borgnine When I knew him way back when Airwolf was Filming . He simply said that it was the way that Universal did things He didn't understand it either ENJOY THE VIDEO AND STAY SAFE
That's a shame that the original theme park KITT didn't survive. Even though it wasn't screen used, it was still a piece of Knight Rider history. R.I.P. Theme Park KITT #1.
Universal: If anything doesn't make money then it's booted from them. Kittrider had too many flaws into production that production simply thought just get into tv screens.
I have an original picture taken in 1993 when I visited the theme park....I was 16 by then, so I don't remember if I took it or one of my uncles I'll be glad to send them the picture
I sat in the Universal KITT car as a kid. I will never forget it. Still have the picture.
Cool and do you have KITT today because of it?
Same here and I still have my photo as well
Nice dude
I wish I could but I wasn't born yet so yeah at least you and tons of others got to sit in it
Me too! I was so excited!
I sat in KITT at Universal Studios Hollywood sometime in 1986. I didn't want to get out, and when my parents were shooing me out of the car, I yelled back "I love you KITT!", and KITT responded that he loved me too. I have never forgotten that, so thanks to whoever that employee was. For a six-year-old kid, the whole experience was mind blowing.
It's wild to know that some children sat in a screen used KITT without knowing it, shame how it rotted away in a back lot but great to hear it is in a good shape now, including the dash too
Wasn't a screen used car. Watch the video.
@@tyson9419 they used two and one of the was screen used
I worked at Universal Studios Hollywood back in 1993 and my friend and coworker was one of the people that voiced KITT. They were located in a little shack right near the hanging Jaws shark display. I went in there a couple of times to see him in action. It was pretty cool but by that time the interest in KR had dwindled and the lines to see KITT wasn’t as long as in previous years (when I visited as a paying customer instead of an employee).
Did You Know Jeff Samford ? , I used to help him Detail K.I.T.T.When he was in charge of it , . and I learned the hard way about the mike's all around it. I was working under the dash to clean out some trash some one had stuffed under there ( too lazy to go to the trash can I guess) . any way I snagged my hand on a piece of hanging metal and I was cussing a blue streak ,when one of the Attendants came running over and said " MAN THEY CAN HEAR YOU ALL OVER THE AREA!! .Luckily for me I used to do my work on K.I.T.T. before the park was officially opened so no one heard me except for the nearby workers setting up for the day.. Here is my You tube link if you are interested to see what it takes to Detail a Car over water Enjoy!! Jake ruclips.net/video/twWVvMtnHi0/видео.html
That’s great isn’t it?
I sat inside when I was 5 years old, in 1984, but not at Universal Studios. It was at a Theme park in Houston, Texas called Hana-Barbara Land. This Kitt had a recorded message from William Daniel's, the voice of Kitt, playing. So you couldn't actually talk to it. Also, it had the dashboard of the first two seasons. I still have the photo.
was there in June 1996 and sat in KITT. It was an awesome experience that i'll treasure forever being a huge fan of the show.
Was there in August 1991. But the line up was so long to see him. Still very popular 5 years after the show ended.
I might not own the real KITT car, but I do own a RC KITT car from back in the day and I still enjoy playing with it as an adult. It talks just like KITT from the original television show and has the red scanner in front. KITT is my favorite television car of all time. 😊
Saw the 'Expo 88' car languishing by the maintenance building in August 2007, zoomed my camera from the upper lot to get a picture. I always wondered what the story was for that car. Now I know, glad to see it has been saved, thanks for sharing the details of these cars.
I did. It was just so awsome to sit in KITT
Yeah, I remember sitting into one at 1985 Carl Casper Auto Show here in Louisville, ky. Plain awesome til I over heard Kitt's voicebox, it wasn't William Daniel's voice so I asked one of the security guards there and he said they couldn't get him to voice the car for it which made me really sad but then again , probably would't pay for him to stay at a premium hotel here just like Dukes of Hazzard wouldn't pay for all the actors to stay here with the General Lee. Still I wish I could have pressed one of the buttons on the pods to see if one of the dash readouts would lighten further or AT least pushed the surveillance mode button or turned it to see that dash light really light up because I read in a JC Whitney catalog that they could pick up anything within 1/4 a mile away.
Wow... Being at Universal Studios as a kid in the 80's had to be an awesome experience. I'm 24 and I'd love to sit in KITT!!
Yeah, it was. Sadly it seems like all the stuff I saw there as a kid is gone now.
It was man, it was so awesome. Took my son to the Orlando one last year. It’s so much different. Back to the future Jaws and Kong being gone really sucks. They had ET still which is still so amazing.
It WAS awesome in the 80’s. I was a YMCA summer camp kid (North Hollywood) and we went to Universal every year 🥰✨where you could see
Jaws, Knight Rider, The A-Team van, the Psycho house, a western themed shootout with live stunt men, and King Kong had sweet banana breath…❤ and I don’t recall it ever being very crowded, maybe a little in the front as you walked in. At Magic Mountain you could ride Colossus over and over and wear yourself out on rides with short lines. Then there was Knott’s Berry Farm, the LA Zoo, trips to Zuma…🤍☀️🌊
I remember back in the late 80s after the series was done in the states Knight Rider was premiering in Puerto Rico. During this time there was a variety show called Super Sabado(Super Saturday) and they had David Hasselhoff as a guest and a talking KITT. They were promoting the show and a world's expo like show in Puerto Rico. I remember the talking car's scanner lit up in 3 spots, the corners and the center and the speaker was behind the driver seat. I also remember my great aunt and uncle went to the world expo like event was scratched up and had some dents.
KITT says he is a 1980 Trans Am. You might think they could get that correct for a Universal attraction promo....
Lmfao that isn't even the same gen as him
@Stephen Anthony yeah the voice is painful
no, they don't care.
they let the Back To The Future Delorean rot away :(
Maybe KITT wanted to be The Bandit.
It’s an absolute disgrace
Oh no!! I wished they never took the display down ! I would of loved to have seen it at Universal Studios! I don't know why they took it down Knight Rider is a big part of television history!!
My mother bought a brand new Firebird in 1982, it was red, manual transmission and it was the 2.5L 4 banger. We loved that car.
I sat in this KITT 2 times when I was 16 back in 86 and had fun
I went to this attraction as a kid. Absolutely loved it.
I went to Universal Studios in the summer of 1996. I was 15. I went with some family I was visiting and at one point I was given money to go get something to eat. As I walked alone looking for some food I wanted I heard KITT's scanner in the distance. I was like whhhhaaa.. and I started following the sound. I soon found him sitting on that lake and I was able to walk right up to him and sit down in the driver's seat. It was a hell of an experience. I had no idea he was there. If they had not had the audio for his scanner going I would have never known he was there. No one was in a booth talking at that time. I wasn't able to hang out in him to long because my family was expecting me back soon. But I remember the gas pedal was bolted down or something. It wouldn't move. That was something that stuck with me. I can happily say I sat in that car. To bad it wasn't one that was actually screen used like they made us think. But according to this video the dash was.. and that is pretty cool.
Man I wish I could have sat in K.I.T.T. back at Universal Studios. So glad you were able to save one of the cars. Great story on both of these gems!
I was there in 1990 at the age of 10 I lost my ever loving mind getting the chance to sit in this but unfortunately no pictures of it..FML
My husband went to this. He said it was amazing to see K.I.T.T. in person.
Hello! One K.I.T.T Car was also in Helsinki, Finland , Linnanmäki Funfair park 1987, I sat in K.I.T.T at age of 9.Awesome Car!!!👍👍😀🇫🇮🇺🇸🇫🇮🇺🇸
Danke für diese tolle Aufklärung. Meine Onkel war1984 in Universal Studio,und erzählte uns davon in Deutschland, undbi v war so fasziniert. Danke eu v für diese tolle Dokumentation
I had no idea this existed! How fun! Wish I could've seen it!
Thank You for this. I begged my parents for years and years to get to go to Universal Studios to see KITT, and never got to go. Now adult me is so underwhelmed with all the details youve shown. But young me would have been thrilled, but I NEVER would have wet my pants LOL. The surviving theme park car can be seen on Jay Lenos Garage here on youtube. A close up look at the dash shows just how lame it was in real life.
I LOVED KNIGHT RIDER IT WAS AN AWESOME SERIES ON TELEVISION
I remember sitting in KITT in this theme park in the June of 1996.What an awesome experience
Was there back in summer of '94, awe struck sitting in this car. Guess they retired this site afterwards as Universal is always expanding and exploring new ideas for the public.
I met KITT in 1996 at Universal Studios. I remember it well.It was awesome.
Do you have any photos? We'd love to see them! knightriderhistorians@gmail.com
Apparently John Lovitz had two jobs in the 80s, SNL and the voice of KITT at Universal Studios
Lmfao
If only he hadn't been so busy he could have kept Andy Dick away from Brynn Hartman.
Nice!
I sat in that car when my family took our first trip to Disneyland and Universal Studios. It was the best day in my life.
We would love to see photos! knightriderhistorians@gmail.com
I worked at World Expo 88 and walked past the KITT display nearly every day. I was/still am a big fan of the show and managed to "sneak" a few photos with KITT before opening time to avoid the crowds. Unfortunately, I never got to meet the guy who voiced the car - he was always in the tower getting ready for the visitors. I must try to find those photos and send them to you guys. Thank you so much for this history - I always wondered if it was a "real" KITT used on the show and now I know. :-) Some time later (I can't remember how long it was after EXPO), there was a KITT on display in a suburban shopping center in Brisbane (Chermside). I've got a photo of it somewhere too, I wonder if it was the same vehicle? Thank you Knight Rider Historians for all your hard work putting these videos together. I'm slowly making my way through them and I'm enjoying them all very much!
Thanks so much, Vanessa! We would LOVE to see those photos if you find them. To answer your other question, that was a different, non screen used KITT at the shopping center.
I attend the car back in Universal Studios in 1995. Unfortunately the car was closed, the doors locked and they put plexiglas in the sidewindows. My dad shot some footage of the car and had taken some pictures. Will look for them.
They had a KITT car at Houston Autorama car show back in the 80's my dad took me to see it. I remember sitting in it as a child.
i believe one of those two cars was used on the set of war of the worlds. i saw the delorean and the second kitt car behind the maintenance shack for a couple years. ( i always wanted to purchase them but i was not connected enough) i will be at Universal this coming Thursday and will walk the backlot and ask the maintenance people to see if they know anything about the 1st car.
Hey it's been 6 months, how did it go? Lol
I was born in 1982.. so was only a child when this was out but in the early 90s is when i discovered it and fell in love with the show.. huge fan now!
Devasted i never got to see any of these cars in person.. Doesnt help im not in the USA.. still to see these photos is great.. but the story of how they ended up (except 1) is saddening.
Went to Universal Studios in 1997 as part of a family trip to California. Was really excited to see KITT on the lot, got to sit in him and had my dad take my picture both inside the car and outside. I will look for them and send them in to you via email.
We would love that - thanks! knightriderhistorians@gmail.com
I remember watching the KITT talking segment on T.V. Nice to see it again.
At 2:41 that's me! Standing next to KITT
What a coincidence 👍
Another awesome/informative video guys.
I finally managed to get to Universal Studios in 2012. - Saw the 2 Fast 2 Furious Skyline, but would have paid extra money to have seen KITT.😔
I was there around 93’ and we used to had it on vhs but sadly it went missing..i was 4 or 5 years old it was a truly memorable experience..
I was there in July of 1992. Still have the picture and I also remember tapping my fingers somewhere on the dashboard and was told (by K.I.T.T) "Don't knock on me, I'm not a door." Awesome! 😁 (Clear windshield, no fog light grilles)
That was very interesting and great to know, over in England I was one of those kids who got overly excited over knight Rider intro good job I didn't get a chance to sit in these replicas.🤣
Yes i do have pictures of myself and my sister in 1994❤️😎.. this was a lovely video
It was 1986, and my parents took me to this very attraction. I remember wondering how they got the car onto the little pylons in the water. I don't remember what me and KITT talked about but I do remember he actually said hello and used my name. Best trip ever.
I sat in the Theme Park replica car....as an adult....Ill never forget it. Must have been one of the last fans to sit in it over the water. It was 1997. As for popularity....the line was long all day. Took me 15 minutes for my turn. Not a long wait...but there was always a line...all day long.
Do you have any photos? We would love to see them! knightriderhistorians@gmail.com. Thanks!
Fantastic info Joe - love hearing about the history and seeing the photos!
I sat in KITT as a kid with my Brother and asked where was Michael and he said he was at home watching the Rose Parade and we thought it was so cool because it was New Years Day.
hallo sir.. in 1985 kitt was in south africa for 3 weeks. i was there and sit in kitt as a 6 year old boy.. was so awsome.. best memory of myne for that year.. johannesburg easter show in march 1985.
..
I was one of those many kids that got to sit in KITT. I remember KITT asking me my name as I played with the buttons and steering wheel.
He was there both times I visited Universal 86 and 89. I remember being a little disappointed that the "voice" of KITT wasnt authentic.
The season 1/2 nose was perfection 2:20 😍
I have a photo from expo 88 in Brisbane. Thanks joe, love your vids!
We would love to see that photo - we own that car today! knightriderhistorians@gmail.com. Thanks!
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial I will dig it out and scan it over the weekend! Cheers mate :)
Only recently found you guys and ive loved going through your channel. I deal in race used Formula 1 car parts, but my god, a screen used part from K.I.T.T would top all of them!
I sat in the 87 car when I was 9 years old. Good memory!
Do you have any photos? We would love to see them! knightriderhistorians@gmail.com
Thank guys!! I wish i had the chance to sit in one of these cars one time. But i was born a little to late. Good to see it in your channel.
I had the privilege of sitting in this car and living the dream. Universal Studios Hollywood had it on display back in the 90’s and it was a dream come true.
I met KITT in 1996 here it was amazing
I remember seeing the Knight Rider stunt show there around 1985 when I was 8 years old
Awesome insights. I remember seeing the pictures of the KITT-exhibit and so much wanting to go there, but it never became more than a distant dream. Who knows if I would have had an “accident” sitting in him. Luckily I’ve had no “accidents” in my KITT-replica.
Also as a kid i would take the bus to universal studios just to see KITT and who else remembers "the wild wild west show". i saw kitt go from a shiny black trans am to an abandoned relic parked in a walkway with the windows spray painted. (i might have pics of that somewhere)
Great video with good details! I visited this car many times at the park. I wish they would create a retro prop plaza and bring it back along with the A- team van you could lift.
I remember seeing the second car at universal I believe in 1990. I was a little disappointed because the car was looking pretty worn but still was a treat to see it! Somewhere I think I still may have pictures of it. If I can locate them I would be happy to send them to you for the historical record.
Please do, thanks! knightriderhistorians@gmail.com
I got to see this exact car last September when Joe had it at a show. It was a neat experience.
I sat in the second Kitt Car at Universal in 1989. I still have the pictures.
Back to the 80's, cool video thanks.
another cool episode guys
Major props to this channel. They could actually get the true voice of K.I.T.T. (William Daniels) to do the opening of a lot of their videos on this channel. Universal Studios couldn't even get William Daniels to voice their K.I.T.T. (and OMG it showed).
Cheaper to employ a technician to voice KITT and have conversations with the kids.
Yeah, to have a voice actor like Daniels even record a spot...I believe SAG would require him to be paid per use, and even if it’s not the original full amount, it’s perpetual. So whereas advertising covers this on TV, the park would have to foot the bill.
I don't think kids care about accuracy.
Awesome info!! I wonder which KITT I sat in back in August of 1993. Now I really wish I had a pic of me sitting in it so I can tell.
I was just wondering about these. I was extremely excited to see it at universal when I was 12.
I remember sitting in kitt. Never know it was a screen used car until today. My parents still have my picture, I was the happiest 8 year old in the world lol
We would love to see it! Knightriderhistorians@gmail.com
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial I will try to dig it up
I was7 years old when I went there in 1991 to see kitt for my first time ever
I went to Universal in 2000 and hoping to see KITT. He was long gone by then. But at least i got to see the DeLorean which is also since gone.
So good that some footage survives. I have never been to any universal park yet.
Awesome video, very interesting! Your channel is amazing!
I sat in kitt at universal studio I remember it like it was yesterday ☺️
Great video, it's nice how you've got some footage of these, I hope you get sent more. Unfortunately I got to universal years to late in 2017 😢 Did visit the Sepulveda dam to make up for it.
I still have the picture of me in KITT at Universal, I just looked at it just now. Great moment BUT...Kit never spoke! At least not what I remember (we're going back a few years now though!) Maybe his batteries were recharging! Also, underneath the Knight Rider sign by the car in my picture is a Goodyear sign that they had placed underneath it.
If this attraction had been at the Orlando theme park, I'd have visited it and had multiple pictures taken in it. I'm a huge Knight Rider fan from way back. I watched energy episode of the series whenever it was on. #80Baby
Theres pictures somewhere of my brother and I around 7 years old sitting in that car at Universal Hollywood. I distinctly remember asking KITT why his front wheels were in the water? I dont remember the answer. I also remember being kinda disappointed that I couldnt find the panel with the pulsing "voice" lights. I do remember finding the "turbo boost" button
There's probably a photo of me at 8 in this car (or next to it) at Universal Studios when we went to the US with my parent in 1992. I remember seeing it, the first time in my life for real. That was amazing.
I saw another KITT in France a few years later I think in a mall. I can't tell if it was a very good replica or a genuine touring car but it was great anyway to see it again.
The first car I bought when I arrived in Canada was a Firebird (1992 Formula, I would have preferred an 1984 trans-am but it was out of my budget at the time). I kept it about 1 year, I had checked that line on my bucket list :)
Universal: You don't need William Daniels, we have William Daniels at home!
William Daniels at home.....
I sat in the 1988 expo one, couldn’t believe it, I was 6 years old!
Thats our car! Do you have any photos? We would love to see them! knightriderhistorians@gmail.com
So cool to hear the history of the Knight Rider vehicles I was lucky to see one twice here in California at the Avalon Tire and Wheel Montebello they were working on a KIT Trans Am as well as A-team Van.
I was trying to post pictures, but couldn't find how to do that on this link
That Pontiac Transam was a fake Knight Rider car. Now before you care to debate me, I f you had a car that was valued at over 250,000 (per Universal's claim) that you spent 250,000 on, would you care to simply take it a regular wheel shop for repairs knowing they would ask you are there any non-factory sensors along the aluminum wheel or tire that I should know of because I can't guarantee those other sensors won't be damaged.
If you've ever been to Avalon personally, you would see that they have many movie cars that they work on the electrical. Including a beautiful classic 1.4 million dollar Mercedes Gullwing
Great video - as always. I‘d like to ask, if there are any behind the scenes images or even videos from that soundstage at Universal Studios. I guess it would be very interesting to see what their setup there was and how they filmed it.
As far as I know there is at least one behind the scenes image of the soundstage (season 1-2). You can google it ;)
I have always wanted to see KITT and sit in KITT as a kid and as an adult. But I have never gotten the chance to do so. I still hope and dream one day I will.
Come to Atlanta there's a boatload of replicas there ever year for you to sit in.
if one of the owners is cool with it. I just started working on mine when it is done I will let people sit and play in it.
Last week of June 1985, I was almost 10yrs old on the 28th, I do have a picture of me in the car somewhere
Sat in that as ten year old boy in 1984 still got photos of me in car at universal studios
We would love to see those photos! knightriderhistorians@gmail.com
did this when I was a kid. saw a worker put a book in the trunk for the voice actor. my lil bad self wouldn't leave because he wouldn't admit it lol
I saw one day in the RUclips one day, that some one bought the original one from Universal and did all the renovation in the car.
Excellent video God bless!
Very interesting. Thanks!
Me and my late Father visited here in the early 90s....
Cool. Would have been nice. But never got to go there since it's too far from the east coast. I remember pics from MCK's ads in Kit Car Magazine didn't have the arrows over the lights. I did get to meet Bill Gibson's Christine 58 Plymouth and took a pic with her.
I was at World Expo 88 and did get a chance to sit in the screen used KITT.. I remember asking as I was 11 years ago at the Time were's Michael Knight haha...
In March of 1984 our family took a trip to Disneyland in California, and the next day we went to Universal. My 5 year old ADORED Kitt on tv, and was wearing his Mickey Mouse ears hat as he hopped about while waiting in the line to see the car. When I followed him out that long walkway (or so it suddenly seemed when I realized it was a barely 5 year old I had let walk out there alone with water all around it) Kitt started singing 'M-i-c-k-e-y M-o-u-s-e' and then went on to sing the whole Mickey Mouse Club song to him. My son, normally shy, was completely enchanted and would have gladly spent all day sitting in the car talking to his new 'best friend' as he told me Kitt had said they were. From what I could hear, standing beside the door, whoever was talking to my little boy did a FINE and WONDERFUL job of imitating the TV voice... which of course, enchanted me, his mother. Its become one of my most cherished memories of my kid's childhoods, and became the highlight of that entire vacation! Now, some nearly 40 years later, it is the only part of that entire trip I vividly remember in every detail. Thank you to whoever was on 'KITT duty' that day!!!
What a fantastic story! Do you have any photos from that day? We would love to see them! Knightriderhistorians@gmail.com
What a fantastic story! Do you have any photos from that day? We would love to see them! Knightriderhistorians@gmail.com
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial No, unfortunately the car being set with the front part out over the water and the size of the dry circle the rest of it sat on didn't exactly lend itself easily to pictures. And besides, I had quickly handed my husband the 3 month old baby and took off after my kid who was now running to meet his automotive hero. My son couldn't swim at all and I wasn't quite sure he wouldn't go a bit too far trying to see Kitt's scanner in the front. (You never know with 5 year olds. Better not leave such things to chance) That was the one time I really did wish the Park had one of those photo things where it takes your picture somehow while you are on a ride and then you can decide if you want to buy the picture before you leave the park. It would have been so cool, as even I saw how great the dashboard looked and the interior of the car in general. The seat didn't even show wear on that day and was definitely the same cloth as the other seats. It would have been such a FANTASTIC picture, but only a video could have captured Kitt singing the Mickey Mouse song, which got my son now running towards the car. Best picture we had was of my son with his MM ears on, standing next to the railing way on the other side of the 'lagoon' that Kitt's little 'island' extended out into. You could kinda see a very blurry black car in the background, but this was in the day of person adjusted focus buttons on cameras, and my husband focused it on my son, not the things far behind him.
I was in it sometime in the 80s at universal studios, it could have been just before 86, or slightly after 86. My mother did take photos, but those have been lost, so I wouldn't be able to say exactly when.
Do you know what exactly happened to the original theme park car? That was basically a brand new 83 Trans Am that never got driven. Did it get sold or do you have evidence that it got destroyed? Looking forward to watching more of these!
All were crushed per Universal Studio's demand as they owned them all. Any fakes(per the thousand's proclaimed) untold. Want to retrace then have to have VI
N no. at a cost!
@@wesdionne278 It won't shock you to learn that in its debut year, demand was very high for Pontiac's hottest sports car. This meant NBC could only get four cars to do Knight Rider's entire first season. Then, they got lucky. In 1983, a car transporter derailed in California, and although the cars were fine, GM sold 10-12 Firebirds off that train to the studio for a dollar each, with the condition that they had to be destroyed once the cameras stopped rolling. Universal honored that request by dropping a wrecking ball on them, but not before buying another six cars to ensure Super Pursuit Mode could be a thing
MotorScotti- I just watched some of your build videos on your KITT. It’s looking awesome!! So much work!!!
@@raymondcanessa7208 HI Raymond, As some one who used to work with K.I.T.T. at Universal Check out this link ruclips.net/video/twWVvMtnHi0/видео.html It Never made any sense to me at all why they Had to Destroy Perfectly Good Cars . I would have definitely worked out something to save those cars had I known about it at the Time , I used to voice my Concern about this to Ernest Borgnine When I knew him way back when Airwolf was Filming . He simply said that it was the way that Universal did things He didn't understand it either ENJOY THE VIDEO AND STAY SAFE
That's a shame that the original theme park KITT didn't survive. Even though it wasn't screen used, it was still a piece of Knight Rider history. R.I.P. Theme Park KITT #1.
Fortunately 5 screen used KITTs have survived!
Universal: If anything doesn't make money then it's booted from them. Kittrider had too many flaws into production that production simply thought just get into tv screens.
This was so interesting and cool!
I have an original picture taken in 1993 when I visited the theme park....I was 16 by then, so I don't remember if I took it or one of my uncles
I'll be glad to send them the picture