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Turbo Cast Aluminum Wheels—These wheels, available from 1982 until 1984, were offered in two sizes: 14 inch and 15 inch. While it is very difficult to tell the difference, the real K.I.T.T. had the 15 inch wheels. Finding the 15 inch wheels ranks fairly high on the list of rare and hard to find parts for your conversion.
Turbo Cast Wheel Covers—Affectionately named “bowling ball hubcaps,” these came in the two sizes mentioned above and snapped on the turbo cast aluminum wheels. Again, in order to be true to the series, a set of 15 inch wheel covers is necessary. Finding a complete set of these is without a doubt the toughest piece to find because so many were destroyed when a design flaw caused them to unsnap from the rims while the car was in motion.
Taillights—Even though they are covered by a one piece Plexiglas
“blackout,” only the taillights found in the 1982—1985 models can be used on your conversion. After 1985, the lights were redesigned and would not allow for a smooth look once the blackout piece was in place. Also, the turn signals were given their own bulb instead of utilizing the brake bulbs.
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The following two items are options that a true conversion should not have as it is not true to the series.
No Rear Wiper—This is one feature that you do not want your conversion to have. Besides being incorrect for a replica, the rear wiper option is known for leaking, causing part of the body to rust from the inside out. No Rear Defroster—Another option that neither K.I.T.T. nor K.A.R.R. had was the rear window defroster. This small detail is usually the one most overlooked by conversionists.
Once a suitable donor car has been found with all of the correct features listed above, the next step is to begin the actual conversion from a stock Trans Am into the world’s greatest automobile. With so many variations of the fiberglass conversion products on the market, it is important to choose the one that best fits your preferences. Before buying any part, it must be decided which season K.I.T.T. conversion is desired. Below is a run down of each part and what to look for.
Fiberglass Front Nose Fascia—Season one through three featured a basically unchanged nose with turn signal blackouts on either side of the scanner. The fourth season showed a smooth nose with no blackouts and a more rounded look to it.
High Powered Scanner—K.I.T.T. had a red oscillating scanner bar, while K.A.R.R. had an amber scanner (unless a “Trust Doesn’t Rust” version of K.A.R.R. is desired, in which the scanner would also be red). Fog Lights—Season one of the series had three sets of fog lights in the cutouts on the front nose with special “vents” to hide the lights when not in use. From season two through four, K.I.T.T. only had two sets of lights centered in the front nose openings with no vents.
Taillight Blackout—A simple one piece Plexiglas tint covering the entire taillight assembly. Be sure to check the Plexiglas to make sure light can shine through to allow the taillights to be seen.
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Fiberglass Dashboard—There are basically two versions of the dashboard available. A season one/two replica should have the “2-TV Dash,”
while the season three/four should have the “1-TV Dash.” If a K.A.R.R. replica is desired, then the “2-TV Dash” should be used. The appropriate electronics should accompany the desired dash.
Fiberglass Switch Pod Unit—Again, the only two choices for the switch pod unit are the season one/two unit and the season three/four unit. The version chosen here should coincide with the Dashboard version chosen. K.A.R.R. had the season one/two switch pod unit.
Fiberglass Lower Console with Dash Support—Season one/two featured a colorful lower console with an array of buttons, lights, and the power window switches. Season three/four’s console had a cassette player, a 5 ¾ disk drive, and an array of lighted buttons.
Fiberglass Overhead Console—The overhead console changed a few times throughout the series’ run. The first season shows a much “bulkier”
console with toggle switches and a numerical display. The season two console became very colorful (it had an array of colored pushbutton switches) and much more form-fitting. Season three and four featured a basically unchanged console, adorned with red lights and buttons.
Fiberglass Gullwing Steering Wheel—The steering wheel remained basically unchanged throughout the series’ entire run. The pilot was the only episode to feature the words “Knight Industries Two-Thousand” on the wheel below the emblem. Season three and four featured small green lights on the handles (which can be seen in the third and fourth season opening credits).
Lighted Gas Pedal—This feature should only be installed if a third/fourth season replica is desired. A set of fourteen lights on either side of the gas pedal illuminate sequentially based on the amount of force applied to it.
Door Handle Lights—A set of nine red and green lights located underneath both the driver’s side and passenger’s side door handle. The lights are red when the door is locked, and green when it is unlocked. 340
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Once all of the above have been obtained and installed, your Knight replica is complete. Be sure to take good care of your investment by purchasing a car cover for when it is garaged as well as a high quality wax and other maintenance items. A reliable security system is also recommended—K.I.T.T. may be theft-proof, but your conversion is not. If you are serious about taking on this project, I recommend you do your research and take advantage of websites like the only car club dedicated to this hobby, Knight Registries. Knight Registries (http://www.knightregistries.com) has been the online resource for K.I.T.T. car conversions for over five years, offering a registry featuring over thirty members from around the world with completed conversions. A yearly event is held where we gather our cars together, swap stories, and nit-pick each others vehicle. More importantly, it is where you can converse with others who are currently building a car and those that have completed their car. It is an excellent resource for finding parts and learning more about the companies that sell conversion parts so you can choose the one that is right for you. Continue to live your dreams and maybe we’ll see you online at Knight Registries.
Christopher Brielmaier
Director, Knight Registries Car Club
APPENDIX C:
A CRUSADE FOR IMMORTALITY:
KNIGHT RIDER FAN FICTION
By Laura Tenorio
Every fandom has them, and Knight Rider is no exception. For every idea that was left hanging on the show, there is a story somewhere to wrap it up, and to continue on the legend. It’s called fan fiction, and it is considered by many to be the continuation of a show whose time on the air was all too short. Fan fiction writers are ordinary people with visions of storylines that may never have made it to the screen, but have existed in the imaginations of the fans. Eventually, these writers put their words onto computer screens, and dependant on their personal convictions, they put those stories out on the Internet and in fanzines for others to read, in return for nothing more than criticism.
The Knight Rider Fan Fiction Community is a group of writers who share a common love of Knight Rider in its various forms. They not only try to keep up the interest up in the fan circles through the fiction they produce, but they do try to lend a hand to other projects as well, including the creation of other books, websites, and games. They attempt to integrate as many of the original aspects of the genre as they can, in many cases taking the most minute detail and creating a story around it, while integrating elements from their own imaginations within the stories. The Knight Rider Fan Fiction sensation started in 1997-98 when the completed story “Soul Survivor” appeared on the Internet. The story took 341
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elements from the original episode “Soul Survivor” as well as took creative license in displaying the true emotional aspects that were hinted at in the original series. Knight Rider Fan Fiction appeared on the Internet poten
tially as early as 1996, but few from that time period have survived to the present moment, unlike “Soul Survivor.” Many present day fan fiction writers still use this story as inspiration for their own fiction. Since 1997-98, over 200 Knight Rider (and Knight Rider spin-off) based fan fiction stories have appeared on the Internet. Some are small elements called “scenes” that only show one scene, sometimes based off of an original storyline. Others are novel length fiction that is a fully fleshed out story from start to finish. Many of these are posted on websites created by authors, and a few of them have made it into fanzines published outside of the Internet. Over twenty-five websites in three languages, from many different countries, presently exist that support fan fiction, for over 100 authors who have dabbled in the “ficdom.” These storylines range from extensions of the Knight Rider 2000 world, to examining what Knight Rider 2000 might have been like if it went into series form, to focusing on certain characters in Team Knight Rider. Some stories have K.I.T.T. able to project his personality in an android form; some stories introduce people from Michael Long’s past life, to haunt him in the present. Other stories add characters from the author’s minds, such as a formerly non-existent sister of Michael Knight, or another partner to drive a resurrected K.A.R.R. Many stories explore Michael’s love life, by either introducing somebody new, or dabbling in his fascination with Bonnie Barstow. Many stories explore the emotions and humanity that was occasionally missing from the show, as well as filling in the blanks that were never explored. The average fan fiction site receives at least 50-100 readers a day. Many visitors read the fan fiction as a way of continuing the series in their minds. Many authors write fan fiction for the same reason. This is why fan fiction is a vital part of any community. Even though many writers take advantage of creative license to go beyond the constraints of the original series or movie, they still project the essence of reading a continuance of A Crusade For Immortality: Knight Rider Fan Fiction • 343
the show that they and others loved. Fan fiction serves to keep the fandom fresh, rather than having to rely on reruns of the old series. It draws people in to read the fiction, and in some cases, drives them to see the original that started it all. At the same time, it gives the fan the ability to be involved in the show, when otherwise they would have been just a spectator. New Knight Rider fan fiction stories pop up every week in archives and separate websites, when more people explore their imaginations and decide to put it up on the Internet.
In 2000, the Edwards Knight Rider Fan Fiction Awards were established to honor the writers of Knight Rider/ Knight Rider 2000/ Team Knight Rider fan fiction with graphical awards to put on their websites. The Edwards were named in honor of the late Edward Mulhare, for his contributions to the Knight Rider world as Devon Miles. The traditional awards event takes place from October through December annually, and encourages future fan fiction writers.
In 2002, the Edwards Knight Rider Fan Fiction Awards enabled a new website to start up on the ‘net. The Knight Foundation Fan Fiction Center (http://kredwards.8m.com) was established to aid fan fic readers and writers in their efforts to find Knight Rider fan fiction on the Internet, as well as to aid future writers in knowing the ins and outs of the fan fiction world from those who have been in it for a long time. The Knight Foundation Fan Fiction Center hosts the Edwards Awards, as well as a master list of fan fiction links for most of the known Knight Rider fan fiction on the Internet. The Center also supports and encourages future writers in their efforts to explore their imaginations, and put their visions on the Internet. In essence, the Knight Rider Fan Fiction Community takes up the slack where the series and movies left off. While there are no more original Knight Rider or Team Knight Rider episodes being produced, and while Knight Rider 2000 and Knight Rider 2010 never made it to series, in the minds and hearts of fans, they are still alive, through fan fiction. All it takes is an idea, and the ability to put that idea onto a screen, then uploading it for the world to read and enjoy. The authors have a very large support base, 344
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and the readers have a lot of material to keep them entertained. With just a small and imaginative effort, the adventures of the Knight Rider are never ending, and the legends that started with the original Knight Rider, Knight Rider 2000 and Team Knight Rider are preserved for generations to come. APPENDIX D:
KNIGHT RIDER MERCHANDISE
4X4 K.I.T.T., Rough Riders, 1982.
ACTION STAMPER, House Martin, 1982-83. “Knight in the City,”
“Knight in Shining Armour,” and “Knight 2000.”
AIR FRESHENERS, 1980’s.
BELTS, 1982. Cream with blue letters, Blue with cream letters. BINOCULARS, La-Ru, 1982.
BIRTHDAY CARDS, 1980’s.
BOARD GAME, Parker Brothers, 1983.
BUBBLE GUM CARDS, Donruss, 1983. 55-card set of scenes from the first season.
BULLET TARGET GUN, Ja-Ru, 1983. Red and white gun with five soft pellets.
BURNIN’ KEY CAR, Kidco, 1982.
CANDY STICKS, Barratt, 1982. With Sticker, Blue box. CAP GUN, Ja-Ru, 1982. Black revolver with two packages of caps. COLOR AND ACTIVITY BOOK, Modern Publishers, 1983-84. Six varieties COLOR ME STICKERS, Diamond Toymakers, 1983.
COLORFORMS ADVENTURE SET, Colorforms, 1982.
COMMODORE 64 VIDEO GAME, Ocean, 1985.
CURTAINS, 1980’s.
CUT-OFF CHALLENGE RACE SET, Ideal, 1984.
DIE-CAST VEHICLES, Ertl, 1982.
FLASHLITE, Larami, 1982.
GIFT SET, View Master, 1983.
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GLOVES, 1980’s.
HANDCUFFS, Larami, 1982.
HANDHELD GAME, Akklaim, 1989.
IMPOSSIBLES STUNT SET, Rough Riders, 1983.
IRON-ONS, 1980’s.
JIGSAW PUZZLES, Craft Master, 1983.
KITE, Top Flight, 1983.
K.I.T.T. DASHBOARD, Kenner, 1983.
KNIGHT 2000 CRASH SET, Kenner, 1983.
KNIGHT 2000 MODEL, MPC, 1983 up.
KNIGHT 2000 RADIO CONTROLLED, Kenner, 1983.
KNIGHT 2000 TURBO BOOSTER, Kenner, 1983.
KNIGHT 2000 VOICE CAR, Kenner, 1983
DVD, VHS tapes and Knight Rider merchandise available for purchase from the private collection of AJ Palmgren [Courtesy of Richie Levine] Knight Rider Merchandise •
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KNIGHT 2000 WHIP SHIFTER, Kenner, 1984.
LUNCHBOX, Thermos, 1983.
MICHAEL KNIGHT ACTION FIGURE, Kenner, 1982.
MITTONS, 1980’s
MOLE ON THE RUN, Barratt, 1982.
NINTENDO VIDEO GAME, Akklaim, 1989.
NOVELS, Pinnacle Books, 1982-84.
ORGANIZER BACKPACK, Imaginings 3, 1983. Red, gray, and blue variations. With Michael and K.I.T.T. graphics.
PARTY SET, Hallmark, 1982. Plates, napkins, cups, invitations. Variations.
POW-R-TRONS WIND UP, Ertl, 1982.
PUFFY STICKERS, Larami, 1983.
PURSUIT MODE, Scalextric, 1984.
PUZZLES AND MAZES, Modern Publishers, 1984.
RUB-N-PLAY TRANSFERS, Colorforms, 1983.
SELF-INKING STAMP SET, Larami, 1982.
SLIDING PUZZLE, Ja-Ru, 1982.
SNEAK PREVIEWS, Galoob, 1984.
SOUNDTRACK, Soundtrack Archives, 1984.
STICKERS, Pacesetter, 1983.
STOP WATCH, BuddyL, 1983.
TALKING PEDAL CAR, 1983.
TALKING STORY BOOK, Kid Stuff, 1984.
TARGET GUN, Ja-Ru, 1982.
TELEPHONE, Tyco, 1982.
TELEPHONE INTERCOM SET, BuddyL, 1983.
TIC TOC WATCH, Larami, 1982.
TURBO PURSUIT SET, Kenner, 1983.
TV COMICS HALLOWEEN COSTUME, Collegeville, 1983.
VIEW MASTER #4054, View Master, 1984.
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VISOR AND GLASSES, Larami, 1982.
WALKIE TALKIE, Playt
ime, 1982.
WALLET, Larami, 1982.
WALLPAPER BORDER, Vymura, 1984.
WHISTLE, Larami, 1982.
WIND UP K.I.T.T., Darda, 1984.
WRIST COMMUNICATOR, Larami, 1982.
WRIST RACERS, Ertl, 1984. WRIST WATCH, Armitron, 1984. APPENDIX E:
A GUIDE TO K.I.T.T. ’S FUNCTIONS
Aim Laser—Manually calibrates and aims K.I.T.T.’s onboard laser. Air Vac—Creates a vacuum inside of K.I.T.T., mainly used to clear smoke from internal bomb blasts.
Anamorphic Analyzer—Determines the causes of certain types of damage, such as a bullet hole. Anharmonic Synthesizer—Allows K.I.T.T. to imitate any sound known to man.
Arm Laser—Manually arms K.I.T.T.’s laser.
Assign—A spot on K.I.T.T.’s switch pod where no function is assigned. Aud/Vid Playback—Plays back any audio and video recorded earlier. Aud/Vid Record—Records audio and video of the nearby surroundings. Aud/Vid Transmit—Used to talk over PA systems or speakers. Audio Bank—Directory of K.I.T.T.’s sounds and recorded audio. Audio Playback—Plays back any audio recorded earlier. Auto Collision Avoidance—When activated, K.I.T.T. cannot collide with anything.
Auto Cruise—A self-propelled guidance system that allows K.I.T.T. to drive by himself.
Auto Currency Dispenser—A money dispenser installed near the Chemical Analyzer.
Auto Door—Automatically opens K.I.T.T.’s doors.
Auto Phone—Used to make outgoing calls or receive incoming calls. Auto Vac—An automatic self-cleaning system.
Auto Windows—Automatically puts down the windows.
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