Knight Rider was one of the most television shows in the mid 1980's, produced by Universal Studios spanning 4 seasons from 1982 through 1986. K.I.T.T. was the car of the future with artificial intelligence that could do just about anything. The sleek lines of that black t-top are enough to make any sports car fanatic drool. In fact many 80's kids consider K.I.T.T. the original prototype for the technology seen in modern day vehicles.
And now more than 35 years later, you have the chance to see K.I.T.T. once again.
Thanks to the efforts of a small family from northeastern Pennsylvania, a fully functional replica of the 80's Trans Am is now alive and ready for action. Joe Fiduccia, owner of "
Notchback KITT", brought this legend back to life for the purposes of not only reliving his childhood dream, but also starting a new chapter in his family of three.
"We were at a car show one day, before K.I.T.T., and we really enjoyed the atmosphere", says Joe. "We used to take a lot of motorcycle rides together. But Ryan was still a baby, and those weekend getaways came to an abrupt halt. So we weren't really sure what to do in our spare time. Then is dawned on us."
His wife Ania and son Ryan on board, the Fiduccia's decided to embark on a new journey to build a killer replica of K.I.T.T. One that would turn heads at every corner. So that evening after the car show, Joe began researching black Trans-Ams online while simultaneously researching the complexities of K.I.T.T. conversion.
"We had two criteria - a) the car had to be originally black, and b) it had to be in good running condition."
Joe eventually located a donor car in North Carolina. It was a 1988 Trans-Am GTA Notchback edition (a one-year only production option where the hatch sported a low profile style). Joe took a one-way flight to North Carolina to do a full inspection on the vehicle. He came to an agreement on price with the seller, and drove it 10 hours back home without incident.
"If you really want to test drive a car, drive it 10 hours across state lines. You'll know very quickly if your decision was a good one", exclaims Fiduccia.
It was soon thereafter that Joe, Ania, and Ryan began to disassemble the donor car...converting it to look like K.I.T.T. over the course of about one year. Joe was able to locate hobbyists online who made some of the parts, while others had to be made on his own. The motor and drive train were in generally good shape, but required some repairs and upgrades as well.
And in the Summer of 2011, K.I.T.T. was born. Complete with the functions and weaponry that made him famous on TV. Their replica not only looks like K.I.T.T., but the Fiduccia's have setup the ability to hold a two-way conversation with the vehicle. They have installed a CO2 suppressant system in the front, a rear CO2 rocket launch system, a jet turbine sound system that syncs with the engine's throttle, and much more.
Joe tells us: "it was important for me to bring out K.I.T.T.'s character. He had to be more than just a vehicle. He had to have attitude and intelligence. And I believe we have accomplished that."
The Fiduccia's began taking K.I.T.T. across the country to comic conventions, auto shows, 80's-themed events, and fundraisers. They enjoyed sharing it so much that they even created a
Facebook page
for fans to follow their adventures. Unfortunately K.I.T.T. was placed in storage for several years while the Fiduccia's attempted to build a
replica of Optimus Prime. And once the truck was built, they lacked the resources to keep K.I.T.T. on the road.
But that all changed in 2019 when they made a decision to bring K.I.T.T. back online.
"The car represents a simpler time in our lives", says Ania. "It was important for us to go back to our roots as a family and enjoy the creation that was built solely for our pleasure and enjoyment."
The Fiduccia's ended 2019 on a high note by returning to an indoor auto show with K.I.T.T. for the first time in over 3 years. As 2020 approaches, they vowed to keep K.I.T.T. on the road and bring him to conventions and shows whenever possible. Because they realize the value of their replica, and the nostalgic nature of a simple car that ultimately "transformed" history.
