According to Glen Larson (creator of Knight Rider), Pontiac shipped the first two third gen. t-a's that came out of the factory to universal. Is this true? If that's the case, those cars are long gone if i'm not mistaken. Sad.

 

I've never heard that, but maybe. The show debuted in September 82, so would that mean that the 82 model had already been out for a year? I've heard it was a late debut, like an 82 1/2 model.

They did wreck alot of cars. I did read that the show took a few train cars full of T/A's that had been damaged during a derailment.

I did see an interview with Larson where he said that Pontiac was originally happy with all the free publicity and were considering putting out a factory "KITT" model. Then some guy tried jumping his Firebird and they figured there was too much liability!

At the beginning of the series, it's not uncommon for characters to call the car a "Trans Am". After the jumping thing, there was never a reference made to GM/Pontiac/Firebird again. Characters would call it a "black T-top".

Regardless, most of the cars used in the show were wrecked/wore out during filming, or were crushed afterwards. Some survived, like the 4th season convertible car.

 

Actually, they stopped referring to the car as a Trans Am early in the first season because of people going to the local Pontiac dealership asking for Trans Am's that looked like KITT. Pontiac contacted the producers of the show and asked them not to refer to the car as a Trans Am anymore. Thats where the phrase "black t-top" came in to play. But it was true that Universal received the first 2 TA's to roll off the line to make the pilot episode.

 

where were the first two built ?

this is very interesting!

 

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What board claimed they were Crossfires?

I have a question. If Universal got the first two T/A's and they were LG4's, wouldn't they have had flat hoods? I heard the early LG4's did not get the power bulge, and I've seen pics on this board of the same. Maybe it was an option early on or something, or because it was for TV, they made an exception.

Mine was built in June 82 and has the powerbulge BTW.

 

rt

 

I'm pretty sure that the power bulge hood was part of the WS6 option in early '82.

My '82 that got rearended was built the 4th week of September of '82.

 

Well in a episode of knight rider called (Goliath) David hasselholf is seen caring a piece of the crossfire engine after kitt gets destroyed.So at one point or another kitt was a crossfire ("ex crossfire" donor car for obvious reason's).So its possible that the kitt in the first episode of knight rider was a LG4,then other "donor car's" were used also came with crossfire or/and Lg4's.

But it still doesn't make sense that if it is true if the first lg4's didn't have the bulge hood,then the info on it being the first kitt would be false.

Aside from it all is pretty cool to think that the some of the first third gen t/a's off the line went to become one of the most famous tv car's of all time. :hail:

Oh ya g.o.d bless the wheels on that car:hail: :hail: :lala:

 

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WS6/7 would explain the hood thing, thanks. I bought a non-WS6/7 82 T/A once and it was flat hood...and 14" rims. What a stupid car, but I bought it for parts.

As for what engine the cars on the KR show had, they had 305's, 350's, V6's, etc. Who knows. Some had Crossfires, some didn't, the 4th season convertible was a V6. It really doesn't matter, each car they used was probably somewhat different.

 

82 T/A had black GFX for most color combos because the bottom of the car was usually black.
T/A spoiler, mirrors, door handles were all black in 82 (S/E was body colored)
The pouch bag was part of the deluxe interior I think. My 82 T/A has it, so it's not just an S/E option

 

I saw at least one of the original KITT cars from the show at the volo antique auto museum in the far north Chicago burbs the other day.He's showing his age,I had to kick him three times before he would talk to me(just kidding).Seriously even though all those dash displays are getting dim and wearing out it still is impressive as hell,at least the dash is.The rest of the car is nothing at all special.They had the hood closed though so I couldn't see what was under there.Mostly I was wondering if that door would fit on my 85,need a clean one ya know....(kidding again)

 

I saw the hood open in some episodes, and the cars didn't had the crossfire injection. They've had LG4 under the hood. I'm sure i can even post some pictuers from the DVD if you guys want...

 

i would like to see some pics of it

 

Love the look on the car in your sig tongi, those lines are just way cool. The hood is the best of the birds I've ever seen. Hey, I even got one myself! I'm leaning a bit over to thinking perhaps the 82-84 front is the nicest looking, especially when you add ground effects. It would be cool if one could mount real lights in them bumper "covers" like on kitt, but not using kitts nose which I dont like much.

Don't like the copper/gold lower paint on so much of them 82-84 though, but it could be real nice in black only.

To me these cars, especially the 82-84 black ones got like this "secret" and "dangerous" look to them..... cool as nothing else in the car world.

 

Here's a picture from the episode 8. It's called trust doesn't rust. I do agree that bulge hood is the best hood for the birds. I like 82-83 fronts with the grills. 84's has that plastic covers on them. It doesn't look that bad but i would prefer grills and that's what i have on my 84 T/A. Last 3rd gen T/A's had nice nose too. Those are my second favorite. It kinda look like KITT's nose but it's way much better IMO.

 

I totally agree with you, the 91-92 nose is my second favourite too, but hard and expensive to come by. And it got those cool lights mounted down low like kitt, and much better looking than kitt nose. Perhaps it was modeled after kitt, just made better?

 

I have an 82 T/A. I'll have to go make an impression of the numbers on the cowl tag to find out the date, and I'll let you guys know. it was originally an LG4/3spd car. it has the tan interior with PMD buckets and a map pocket, and the round ***, and the silver bird steering wheel. I took off the steering wheel, anmd my turbo cast wheels to put on 97 T/A wheels and a grant GT wheel. I still plan on keeping my buckets and my shifter. if you see my 3-page sig you can see what all I've done,, that i can remember off hand. the only thing stock from balancer to backing plate is the drive shaft. it's black with the gold bottom, although i don't have GFX on mine, at least, it doens't looke like it. I want one of the noses from an 85-90 T/A.... looks cleaner IMO, and my nose is missing the grilles anyway. mine also has the flat hood, and it had only A/C, auto trans, and tilt wheels for options. no cruise, no defroster or wiper, no hatch release, and it's a t-top car. basically KITT, only in bad shape. $4000 later, i have one bad bird that will be antique in less than 3 years.

 

f

 

THe Pic that Tongi posted has an LG4...

JOhn

 

here's something to think about...

kitt supposedly had some kind of jet/turbine engine, if it was a jet engine wouldn't it need some sort of ram air hood

also about the hoods on the first kitts, Pontiac probably shipped the cars to Universal along with all kinds of extra parts, hoods, spoilers, seats, whatever

 

 

I just don't like the 84 front end with those flat covers. I love the look of those 82-83 front ends with the grills...

 

You are aware of the fact that many 84's came with the grilles. The flat panels were more popular on the W62 package.

 

I thought all '84 ta's had those flat panels. Well, at least all '84 ta's that i saw had those flat covers...

 

Nope. My current 84 came with grilles and no "W62" and is an L69 car. My first TA was an 84 L69 car with "W62" and black grilles. My 15th Anniversary TA obviously had the flat panels. I know of 2 other 84 "W62" cars owned by friends of mine that have the panels.

 

after reading this post, over 8 months later, the nose has grown on me. I decided to keep the nose, but either make inserts out of sheetmetal, or somehow find the insert grilles. i saw a left side one in the JY, but it's the only one. the right side was missing. I sold thirdgenparts my wheels, and kept my 97 T/A wheels, and i sold him the shifter and put in a Z-gate. I'll probably upgrade to the mega shifter w/ console later this year. my steering wheel was shot. i kept the horn button, but the wheel was chipped, cracked, and peeling, and i couldn't justify keeping it or selling it. it was just way too far gone.

I do have one response to fast68. I know everyone has their opinion, but this is right up there with "why put in a 396 when you can put in a 454 or 502?" the answer is two-fold:

1) because I CAN,

2) because i got good deals on the stuff i replaced, and it needed replacing. some of it, i even had lying around.

while I'm keeping the nose, I didn't like the shifter because it missed shifts all the time. the steering wheel looked like crap, and the wheels were ugly. mainly because they were old and needed refinishing. i didn't even have the hubcaps. also, I had the 82. it was GIVEN to me. a friend couldn't keep it, so he gave it to me. and now i have it, and my tab will be up to $6200 very soon. and I STILL haven't painted it. (read the new sig). Also, the 82 chassis becomes smog exempt after next year. so, no more emissions. you think it's butchery, i think it's just all about what you like. difference of opinion. and also, i loved knight rider as a kid, and I love how peple always offer $500-$1000 bucks for my car to do a knight rider conversion...... and I can keep all my bolt ons, my tranny, motor, rear, suspension, everything but the body and seats. honestly, there are times where had i had another 3rd gen, I'd have done it, because my only attachment to the year is that smog exemption is >2 years away. otherwise, I love the car, I've got a lot of cash, blood, sweat, and tears in it, but ultimately, it could have been an 88, or a 90, or a 84, or an 87, or whatever. any car i put this much into, is going to get this massive amount of love, attention, and care from me, regardless of year, symbolism, or icon status.

I love this car cuz it's the first I've ever owned myself. no one can take it away from me. I've finally got the trans am i always said i'd get, albeit not the year i originally though i'd have. if my tastes are different, i'm sorry, but ultimately, it's my car, and if i don't like the KITT-style wheels, they're coming off. (you're welcome, thirdgenparts ) ::flamesuit on::

 

also, if anyone knows where to find new, NOS, or repro- grille inserts for the 82-84 bumper, let me know. i need a set in good condition.

 

Classic Industries book....drivers side part number: G8946.
Passenger side part number: G8945. They are $56.75 each. Its a little high, but at least they are available.

 

dude, you're awesome.

 

thansk again man

HA HA I strike again

14's aren't going for crap these days,But 15's are a different story

My running gag is "The extra inch makes a BIG difference"

p.s Too bad man I didn't know about you looking for the 82-84 grilles,Just yesterday I Found a mint Set and sold them for $50.

If i find anymore I'll let you know man.And ill just charge you what I payed + shipping

 

SWEET. I'll gladly take a pair, if they're mint and black. (close to mint would even be ok. so ong as they're not cracked and messed up). nice joke, BTW.