Also, I laughed when you described the trunk lid/hatch being able to open when simply pressing the button (new struts/warm weather/etc…) because the clip you showed had the guy inside with the broom handle pushing it up! But maybe it was worn/cold out…
I always loved KITT's "police mode" as a kid. Nothing but a wig-wag box in the car and stage effects for the lights but it looked convincing when you're 8 😂
There is one practical thing overlooked. The times the TV screens were working in hero dashboards. Its a minor visual effect but when its not super imposed those 3-5 episodes you see it, I think it also counts.
Great video as always! I’m aware that William Daniel’s recorded the Kitt parts from a sound booth . My question is , did they play his voice recordings through the insert dash via speaker to get the voice box to move with his voice so the eq bars would appear to be in sync with the recorded lines spoken . Or how did the make them in sync? The vocals and box looked too synced up to be just some guy moving the eq bars manually.
@@josephferraro4925 the High Traction with actual spikes was a half tire prop that was never actually mounted on a car. The hood if you look carefully was often done with fishing line. I haven't looked close enough on the winch but one of the times it was shown for a car that didn't even have a KITT nose so was likely also not incorporated into the actual vehicle. That one time with the roping shot into a barrel the rope would have come from where the lock for the rear door is traditionally mounted and there isn't a hole for in the tail light blackout.
This is so interesting Joe thankyou.I always wondered myself how they got KITT to do some of those things.I do remember the blood analyser.,I will re watch those episodes to see if I can see the blood any liver.
@@williammitchell4417 Look at the video where he reunites the car and the Semi he shares photos there showing the tint that was pealing off its windows when he got it to help verify without releasing the studio inventory number that it was the tinted car in The Wrong Crowd.
@@Spokavriel yep. I saw the video. The tricky question was when KARR the Wirehead had the woman hostage forcing KITT to a showdown, the windshield was tinted and then he reveiled her inside.
I remember that high traction drop downs being used (ferociously) to shake the earth that put them buried. Well, another feature is the change to the sunglasses/tinted windows. I think it was visible during some episodes. It is probably a practical effect of placing a film (or changing the glasses?) on the same spot. The was a comedy scene around that KITT's feature.
Whenever I see a modern vehicle that can open and close the rear hatch electrically, I'm just not impressed because Kitt did it first. Additionally, I specifically remember Kitt opening and closing the hood in Goliath Returns by himself. That would be interesting to know how that was done. Another interesting and informative video Joe. Thanks for sharing.
That's a black painted broomstick used by a person hiding in the back seat. Had to give the hatch a push because the studio was too cheap to buy new gas struts and it might have been a bit chilly when that was shot.
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial Hah, cool! Now that I know what it is I can see the motion is more than just something randomly dropping. Thanks for answering my question!
You mention the blood analyzer but what about the other under dash accessories? The multi material printer that at times was dot matrix or Bonnie's magic money dispenser that caused KITT trouble in Vegas? Or the Return to Kadiz (spelling uncertain) material analyzer that cleaned the gold telling me it also has sonic cleaner properties.
We considered including it, but because the transformation happened on a half car being towed, we dont count that as being built into one of the cars, but rather a SFX gag
Seen a replica at a car show in the Northeast Guy installed a remote start with the digital tones, scanning effects and the turbine noise looping on an iPhone
While not KITT, the high traction drop downs are clear as day in KITT vs KARR as KARR drives out of the sand. Then again that was definitely one of the cars mentioned anyway.
When opening the trunk lid at 14:06, you can see a push rod disappear, so there was a person in the trunk pushing the lid open in this shot. I suspect that relying on the gas cylinders is not enough, and it was too expensive to shoot the scenes enough times to make it work.
I think the HTDS was also activated(or at least used) in KITT vs KARR. Though how KARR got it, I dunno. :) (I know, technically they did it to get the car out of the sand.)
When you mentioned Oil Slick was originally OIL, you forgot that originally it was also pressed by Buddy in the Comtron demo derby - and it was just one of those lower console letter buttons…
Both units of SPM KITT were both crunched. What about the polarizing window glass? There were glasses that existed at that time that would polarize and turn darker under the correct conditions so what would have stopped them from having the same tech for the window glass?
You know? For some reason all these years, I always assume that KITT driving himself was done with some kind of R/C Tech. Would that have even been possible back then? Does anyone out there know?
What I always found interesting about super pursuit mode was the reason it was invented and the season opener of 4… Kitts molecular bonded shell have been compromised and they could not re-create it because one person who had part of the formula ingredients was killed. So, SPM was created so that KITT could quickly maneuver around faster avoiding gunshots, and such. However, I think just an episode or two later KITT was shot at and you could see bullets bouncing off of his molecular bonded Shell. Maybe they got the corpse of the person who held the missing ingredient, got them into KITT, and activated his oxygen, and revived them. (Yes, that was a stupid idea about the oxygen…) Gotta love old plot holes, though!
@@MarkTEwing There were 3 key components to the MBS, and Wilton Knight entrusted 3 people with 2 each. Only 1 of the 3 people who knew the MBS's key components was dead. There was one other person and Devon, so that was all you needed to have the full formula.
@@danmurphy9173 Plus the fact that Devon had been kidnapped, and someone was impersonating him to try to shut KITT down. It was just that situation, and Michael/KITT having to work outside the Foundation, that didn't give them any way to re-apply the MBS after KITT was rebuilt. Until of course the plot was shut down, and the real Devon was put back in, and Wilton's daughter decided Michael and KITT were alright after all.
Oxygen system was on a sound stage. Tire inflation you could argue should be on the list, but in reality, they just let the air out of one of the tires then reversed the footage.
@@kathrynwatts273 cool. So you know which episode I'm talking about. I have all 4 seasons on DVD. And unfortunately the 2008 one as well. I cheated and looked back at Joe's commentary. The hook went through the barrel at the back of the trailer.
I've seen so many videos on this channel, but maybe to this day I'm missing this answer: Where should the SPM and EBS buttons be located on the dashboard? On TV it's always a close-up.
That was two cars. One was a driver with the top permanently cut off. The "working" one was the body from the firewall back, mounted on a trailer. The roof parts that slid back poked out past the rear of the body. When you see the roof moving you only see the passenger area and just down to the tops of the doors.
What about KITT'S Co2 dispenser for putting fires out,was that actually in the car? I also heard that KITT could swim underwater like James Bond's Lotus did in For Your Eyes Only,but we never saw it,I wonder is this true?
If you look on it right, the bomb in the Trunk was wrong. We know Kitt has a Protection who was removed by a simple Water Spray Truck who was covering the Hull of Kitt and removed the Protection, so Kitt was destroyed shortly after. The Trunk and everything inside is not protected, so the Bomb would practicaly destroy Kit from the inside. Throwing the Bomb somewhere on the Ground would usualy be enough, the racing Car is fast enough to go away.
Your trunk lid clip.... while the trunk may have opened on its own it seems it wasn't reliable or fast enough as there is clearly someone using a black painted stick pushing it open in your clip....
Now the real question is: how much of these "functionalities" could be retro-fitted into a KITT,? I would love to see a converted KITT with at least auto roof, smoke release, "fake oil" slick, automatic trunk lid, and working video call monitors. But please skip Turbo Boost, Ski mode and eject seats, we don't want to see someone die. Auto-Cruise can wait until A.I. is developed well enough so a car can "understand" the road, not just identify pre-programmed road conditions and play "follow the lines". By that time we'll be able to actually have an engaging conversation with KITT's A.I..
Even the one that was real in use in the show required some mods that made it dangerous to be in the car with it. Glad only dummies were really launched. The prison officer ;)
Just started to think that if they had added some of the special functionalities also to semi itself and used those in setup where some terrorist etc group tries to hijack it. It would have been something like combination of Knight rider and Mad max 😁
You missed one very basic feature. In "trust doesn't rust" it is said that KITT and KARR can travel 100 yards in 2 seconds. I'm assuming that's from a dead stop because that's only 102 mph.
Just for the record: Trötyla is nowhere near to self driving. Some taxi companies on the other hand actually recently got the permit to operate their self driving taxies in cities.
Just a note to the "Thanks you TESLA" regarding self driving... TESLA's so called "Autopilot" ist actually not better than most driver assist systems other cars offer (accourding to some tests just the opposite). It more like TESLA's marketing (or should I say Elon's big mouth) is louder. So: No it's ceretainly not because of TESLA.
Also, I laughed when you described the trunk lid/hatch being able to open when simply pressing the button (new struts/warm weather/etc…) because the clip you showed had the guy inside with the broom handle pushing it up! But maybe it was worn/cold out…
HAHA yes, and I was going to mention that broom handle, but thought it was funny to see if anyone noticed...and you did!
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial is that what's seen falling down on the right side as it opens?
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial Well, you’ve taught me how to properly watch Knight Rider!
My first car had gas shocks on the trunk. When it was cold I had to prop it open. That was annoying.
I always loved KITT's "police mode" as a kid. Nothing but a wig-wag box in the car and stage effects for the lights but it looked convincing when you're 8 😂
Interesting stuff! Never seen before that behind the scenes drive-by clip with oil sprayers on, that is very cool :)
Glad you liked it!
There is one practical thing overlooked. The times the TV screens were working in hero dashboards. Its a minor visual effect but when its not super imposed those 3-5 episodes you see it, I think it also counts.
Ahhh yes you are correct! Good catch!
Great video as always!
I’m aware that William Daniel’s recorded the Kitt parts from a sound booth . My question is , did they play his voice recordings through the insert dash via speaker to get the voice box to move with his voice so the eq bars would appear to be in sync with the recorded lines spoken . Or how did the make them in sync? The vocals and box looked too synced up to be just some guy moving the eq bars manually.
Could have added the spiked tires
Hood opening and closing on its own
Grappling hook and wench.
@@josephferraro4925 the High Traction with actual spikes was a half tire prop that was never actually mounted on a car. The hood if you look carefully was often done with fishing line. I haven't looked close enough on the winch but one of the times it was shown for a car that didn't even have a KITT nose so was likely also not incorporated into the actual vehicle.
That one time with the roping shot into a barrel the rope would have come from where the lock for the rear door is traditionally mounted and there isn't a hole for in the tail light blackout.
It was always cool to see the screens actually working the few times we did
Cool as always, Joe. Rewatching Season 1 now. Thanks for the great content!
Be great if yall could get Mr Daniels to record specific voice stuff for your KITT
That would be neat to see. If you remember, I think he might have talked about it while Mr Daniels was cast in St Elsewhere.
This is so interesting Joe thankyou.I always wondered myself how they got KITT to do some of those things.I do remember the blood analyser.,I will re watch those episodes to see if I can see the blood any liver.
What about the auto-tint windows? I think that they had a car, already tinted, and faded the images together.
Very much a good example of KITT vs KARR.
Your right and the Tinted car is the newer of the 2 the Historian own.
@@Spokavriel kinda sorta. Joe's car was one of the hardtop stunt cars.
@@williammitchell4417 Look at the video where he reunites the car and the Semi he shares photos there showing the tint that was pealing off its windows when he got it to help verify without releasing the studio inventory number that it was the tinted car in The Wrong Crowd.
@@Spokavriel yep. I saw the video. The tricky question was when KARR the Wirehead had the woman hostage forcing KITT to a showdown, the windshield was tinted and then he reveiled her inside.
Great video love all the little secret things about Kitt, and also I loved the super pursuit mode as a kid 🔥
Thanks for the video very interesting ❤❤
Thank you for sharing very interesting watching from South Africa
I remember that high traction drop downs being used (ferociously) to shake the earth that put them buried.
Well, another feature is the change to the sunglasses/tinted windows. I think it was visible during some episodes. It is probably a practical effect of placing a film (or changing the glasses?) on the same spot. The was a comedy scene around that KITT's feature.
Car Swap to the car Joe owns which is no longer tinted but still had it when he got it, seen in another video.
@@Spokavrielthanks!
best episode yet.
Thanks!
Whenever I see a modern vehicle that can open and close the rear hatch electrically, I'm just not impressed because Kitt did it first. Additionally, I specifically remember Kitt opening and closing the hood in Goliath Returns by himself. That would be interesting to know how that was done. Another interesting and informative video Joe. Thanks for sharing.
Notice how you don't see the entire hood when it opens or closes...thats because there's someone off camera doing it.
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial I thought they might have hired Cooter for that like he did in Ghost of General Lee 😉😁
Hi
Great Intro 😊😊😊
Great Video
I think were want more information 😊
Best wish Pierre
KARR had the High Traction Drop Downs in KITT vs. KARR when John Staton and Maggie drove KARR off the beach.
@ 14:06 it looks like the right side lift strut falls off or breaks in the shot.
almost looks like a stuntman was pushing the trunk open with a stick
@@craigm4956 Could be that too
Stuntman with a stick!
At 14:04 is it the right trunk strut falling down?
That's a black painted broomstick used by a person hiding in the back seat. Had to give the hatch a push because the studio was too cheap to buy new gas struts and it might have been a bit chilly when that was shot.
@@greggv8 Cool
What is it that comes detached @ 14:04 on the hatch?
That's actually a hidden crew man using a broom handle to push the hatch open!
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial Hah, cool! Now that I know what it is I can see the motion is more than just something randomly dropping. Thanks for answering my question!
@@mathuetax I thought when I first saw that one of the hatch struts failed
All what you see today is mostly thanks to knightrider, the expensive brand cars has a feature introduced in knightrider.
Thank you for sharing love your work! Has anyone ever explained how the sliding auto roof worked?
Another Great Video Commentary Joe! I'm just curious, did you forget about K.I.T.T.'s grappling hook and winch?
You mention the blood analyzer but what about the other under dash accessories? The multi material printer that at times was dot matrix or Bonnie's magic money dispenser that caused KITT trouble in Vegas? Or the Return to Kadiz (spelling uncertain) material analyzer that cleaned the gold telling me it also has sonic cleaner properties.
None of those were ever mounted in a car, only props on a soundstage. The blood analyzer was in the car
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial Thanks for the confirmation. I wanted it actually pointed out though because its easy to think otherwise.
great video as usual. did you not include the convertible because it wasnt on a full kitt?
We considered including it, but because the transformation happened on a half car being towed, we dont count that as being built into one of the cars, but rather a SFX gag
Seen a replica at a car show in the Northeast Guy installed a remote start with the digital tones, scanning effects and the turbine noise looping on an iPhone
Kitt's rocket booster, his flamethrower
The licence flip....but that was probably on a sound stage
I sure miss this kind of content!
I liked it, thanks a lot!
While not KITT, the high traction drop downs are clear as day in KITT vs KARR as KARR drives out of the sand. Then again that was definitely one of the cars mentioned anyway.
Beat me to it
When opening the trunk lid at 14:06, you can see a push rod disappear, so there was a person in the trunk pushing the lid open in this shot. I suspect that relying on the gas cylinders is not enough, and it was too expensive to shoot the scenes enough times to make it work.
The flipable license plate must have been practical for at least one of the cars I imagine
As a kid in the 80's I thought the SPM was the coolest thing EVER, but those Massive red braking flaps......were utter crap.
I think the HTDS was also activated(or at least used) in KITT vs KARR. Though how KARR got it, I dunno. :)
(I know, technically they did it to get the car out of the sand.)
Look at EBS.. Travis Pastrana’s Family Huckster is incredibly similar with active aero now in 2023. So so so ahead of it’s time on KR.. genius 👌
Did the hero car ever utilize the oil slick, as well as the smoke release?
No only stunt cars
When you mentioned Oil Slick was originally OIL, you forgot that originally it was also pressed by Buddy in the Comtron demo derby - and it was just one of those lower console letter buttons…
Excuse me...but my remote controlled KITT replicas come momentarily to the closest of a real 'driverless' kitt 😁. Again, excellent video!
I know on the mail order schematics it shows skis but i dont remember them in an episode
Both units of SPM KITT were both crunched. What about the polarizing window glass? There were glasses that existed at that time that would polarize and turn darker under the correct conditions so what would have stopped them from having the same tech for the window glass?
Yes but in terms of the production, none of the cars had that for filming.
You know? For some reason all these years, I always assume that KITT driving himself was done with some kind of R/C Tech. Would that have even been possible back then? Does anyone out there know?
While possible it cost a lot more. Disney did some scenes that way for Herbie movies.
Mythbusters did it quite often. Not very difficult. The radio Jamie uses looks older as well.
Very cool😁
The grappling hook
We had a real "smoke screen" using a windscreen pump into our intake, the fluid was redex, so cleaned the engine at the same time.
Why was the driver side door open in the smokescreen shot in the pilot episode?
I like the idea of SPM. But the implementation in the show was too over the top. Just a little more subtlety would've gone a long way here.
What I always found interesting about super pursuit mode was the reason it was invented and the season opener of 4… Kitts molecular bonded shell have been compromised and they could not re-create it because one person who had part of the formula ingredients was killed. So, SPM was created so that KITT could quickly maneuver around faster avoiding gunshots, and such. However, I think just an episode or two later KITT was shot at and you could see bullets bouncing off of his molecular bonded Shell. Maybe they got the corpse of the person who held the missing ingredient, got them into KITT, and activated his oxygen, and revived them. (Yes, that was a stupid idea about the oxygen…) Gotta love old plot holes, though!
@@MarkTEwing KITT only lost his MBS for that one episode. He got it back at the end of Knight of the Juggernaut.
@@MarkTEwing There were 3 key components to the MBS, and Wilton Knight entrusted 3 people with 2 each. Only 1 of the 3 people who knew the MBS's key components was dead. There was one other person and Devon, so that was all you needed to have the full formula.
Yeah, there just wasn’t time to go back to CA and get a batch together with the instability of Sernium 116 at play.
@@danmurphy9173 Plus the fact that Devon had been kidnapped, and someone was impersonating him to try to shut KITT down. It was just that situation, and Michael/KITT having to work outside the Foundation, that didn't give them any way to re-apply the MBS after KITT was rebuilt. Until of course the plot was shut down, and the real Devon was put back in, and Wilton's daughter decided Michael and KITT were alright after all.
What is with the Laser?
The changing of the gear leaver
I noticed sometimes that instead of the t tops opening upwards, they slide instead.
14:05 right side hatch lift support breaks and falls
It’s the stunt man pushing the hatch open with a stick
What about the other analyser....was it ever in the car or sound stage only?
Sound stage, I already asked about it but comments are adding up.
those towels :D
Hi Joe. Visual FX video next? Let me know. Thanks
Hang in there! Its on the list, but very time intensive to pull together.
Yeh what about the tyre inflation system and the oxygen system?
Oxygen system was on a sound stage. Tire inflation you could argue should be on the list, but in reality, they just let the air out of one of the tires then reversed the footage.
Is the VFX video coming out soon? I have plans for an 80s style show myself and I really wish to know howbthey did the laser effects in the show
Grappling hook
Not built into the cars, just rigged off camera to look that way.
Hi
Its very intresting what All they repair after the Stunts .
Best wish Pierre Knight
Don’t forget the grappling hook seen in Halloween Knight!
It was originally in "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" and it was also used again in "Goliath Returns"
The grappling hook was installed in the episode, "Not a Drop to Drink" where KITT had to use it to pull the excavator away from the pipeline.
@@kathrynwatts273 I'm going to have to watch that episode again! From what I remember most of course is the bull
@@williammitchell4417 That particular scene happened while KITT was in FLAG mobile unit at the start of the episode.
@@kathrynwatts273 cool. So you know which episode I'm talking about. I have all 4 seasons on DVD. And unfortunately the 2008 one as well. I cheated and looked back at Joe's commentary. The hook went through the barrel at the back of the trailer.
what about the grapling hook?
I've seen so many videos on this channel, but maybe to this day I'm missing this answer: Where should the SPM and EBS buttons be located on the dashboard? On TV it's always a close-up.
The front lazer under the kitt and the grappling hook
What about microjam and microlock?
Those werent real effects built into the studio cars.
Did not KARR in season 3 have the High Traction Drop Downs also?, at least in the beginning of the episode?
Grappling hook!
Not built into the cars, just rigged off camera to look that way.
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial my whole life was built on a lie!!! Lol. Seriously, I don’t know why it saddens me to find that out.
Cool and interesting stuff thanks for sharing...and only 4k off 100k subs
What about the convertible car?
That was two cars. One was a driver with the top permanently cut off. The "working" one was the body from the firewall back, mounted on a trailer. The roof parts that slid back poked out past the rear of the body. When you see the roof moving you only see the passenger area and just down to the tops of the doors.
The cable on the front that kitt could shoot out... A grapple hook???
Cylinders and such that operate in either direction are called double acting cylinders.
Aside from Auto Cruise, todays cars have electric trunk lids, anti-lock brakes, ESP, great sound systems, voice control.
What about KITT'S Co2 dispenser for putting fires out,was that actually in the car? I also heard that KITT could swim underwater like James Bond's Lotus did in For Your Eyes Only,but we never saw it,I wonder is this true?
Wasn't the hook a part of a real car?
If you look on it right, the bomb in the Trunk was wrong.
We know Kitt has a Protection who was removed by a simple Water Spray Truck who was covering the Hull of Kitt and removed the Protection, so Kitt was destroyed shortly after.
The Trunk and everything inside is not protected, so the Bomb would practicaly destroy Kit from the inside.
Throwing the Bomb somewhere on the Ground would usualy be enough, the racing Car is fast enough to go away.
Your trunk lid clip.... while the trunk may have opened on its own it seems it wasn't reliable or fast enough as there is clearly someone using a black painted stick pushing it open in your clip....
Magnifique m'y friend from tunisia africa
What is with KITTs flamethrower?
That smoke generator looks like an expendable cartridge taped to the bottom.
Now the real question is: how much of these "functionalities" could be retro-fitted into a KITT,? I would love to see a converted KITT with at least auto roof, smoke release, "fake oil" slick, automatic trunk lid, and working video call monitors. But please skip Turbo Boost, Ski mode and eject seats, we don't want to see someone die. Auto-Cruise can wait until A.I. is developed well enough so a car can "understand" the road, not just identify pre-programmed road conditions and play "follow the lines". By that time we'll be able to actually have an engaging conversation with KITT's A.I..
Hi Joe
Could the ejection seat be made in real life?
Mythbusters took this on. The answer is no.
@@paragonpartners2058
ok ty
And being so quick to answer
Even the one that was real in use in the show required some mods that made it dangerous to be in the car with it. Glad only dummies were really launched. The prison officer ;)
@@Spokavriel
ok ty
And thanks for getting back to me so quick
Just started to think that if they had added some of the special functionalities also to semi itself and used those in setup where some terrorist etc group tries to hijack it. It would have been something like combination of Knight rider and Mad max 😁
What about KITT's CO2 sprayer? He put a fire out with it in at least one episode.
Hmm that could be one too actually. We'll look into it!
Hmm that could be one too actually. We'll look into it!
@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial Don't forget the grappling hook either, it was used multiple times and I can't tell if it was real or fakery.
What about the blooper joke Auto Suck? That was technically in the car.
You missed one very basic feature. In "trust doesn't rust" it is said that KITT and KARR can travel 100 yards in 2 seconds. I'm assuming that's from a dead stop because that's only 102 mph.
What about the C button ? I think that could be a whole video in its self.
The infamous SPM design...
Just for the record: Trötyla is nowhere near to self driving. Some taxi companies on the other hand actually recently got the permit to operate their self driving taxies in cities.
For me, Super Pursuit Mode jumped the shark 😢
Repairing the drop-down mechanism should not be complicated to do. . look for any 4x4 shop or car club, lowriders mainly, to what was installed.
In season 4 roof Kitt open outside , no uping
What about the knight rider 2005. When they the the Ford mustang
laughable CGI/totally fake “transformations”. Really just a Ford commercial. A shame because the car LOOKED great.
The rockets
The flame thrower.
What. Special. Effects. Were. Actually. Built. into. The. Knight
And theres me thinking it was all KITT so kitt wasent real 😢
What about kitts ATM machine and co2. Never no if u need money😂
How did do it when he ride over a boobm
11:57 Oh, good grief...we HAD to go there, didn't we? Gotta give a nod to environmentalist wackoism.
Just a note to the "Thanks you TESLA" regarding self driving... TESLA's so called "Autopilot" ist actually not better than most driver assist systems other cars offer (accourding to some tests just the opposite). It more like TESLA's marketing (or should I say Elon's big mouth) is louder.
So: No it's ceretainly not because of TESLA.
Thank you Tesla for auto cruise? man Waymo makes Tesla look like a toy and always will. WAYMO is the current version of the past
Do you have the blood analyser