Knight Rider's Legendary Ride, KITT, Was Originally Going To Be A Very Different Car
The article details the production history of the iconic car KITT from the television show Knight Rider. It reveals that the Pontiac Trans Am was not the original choice, as producers initially considered the Datsun 280zx.
Why it matters
It provides cultural context for 1980s television history and the intersection of automotive marketing and entertainment media.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images Nothing defined the era of '80s television quite like the cool cars that were seemingly in every show, from the Ferraris used on "Miami Vice" and "Magnum, P.I.," and even the black and gray van used by "The A-Team." But at the top of the list sits KITT, the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driven by David Hasselhoff on "Knight Rider." However, KITT was nearly a very different car — it was originally supposed to be a Datsun.
Purely historical and entertainment-focused reporting with no political or social agenda.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in