What's this underneath KITT?

flemmo · Post by **flemmo** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:13 pm

Something thats intreagued me for ages is the metal bar that can sometimes be seen just below the front bumper/spoiler?

I know they used several different cars, depending on what KITT was doing which explains why its not always there, but does anyone know what it actually is?

The screengrab was taken from season 2, but I noticed it in season 1 too.

Another thing I noticed (especially in season 1) is that sometimes KITT's hood/bonet is sometimes slightly open, maybe by just an inch or so. Again, wondered why this was

Knight2000 · Post by **Knight2000** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:25 pm

I think that was some kinda bracket to support the extended nose.

As for the hood, sometimes it was actually open/not closed properly and sometimes it was the special covering that prevented damage to the car during stunts.

flemmo · Post by **flemmo** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:43 pm

it looks like there is a loop on either end, maybe to mount something on there? a camera maybe?

JL · Post by JL » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:13 pm

It's the towing bar. They'd use it whenever they wanted to show people inside the car. During these types of shots, KITT would be connected to a truck via that bar, freeing Hasselhoff from having to concentrate on driving the car and acting at the same time.

Nismogtr21 · Post by **Nismogtr21** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:06 pm

JL wrote:It's the towing bar. They'd use it whenever they wanted to show people inside the car. During these types of shots, KITT would be connected to a truck via that bar, freeing Hasselhoff from having to concentrate on driving the car and acting at the same time.

LOL...

krfan1 · Post by **krfan1** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:57 pm

The hood is open in some shots because there was a device that would shoot out sparks (to simulate bullets bouncing off KITT)

krfan1

James_kr · Post by **James_kr** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:34 am

maybe the engine was too big for the hood to close. Yeah the bar is for towing.

Joe Huth · Post by **Joe Huth** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:10 am

The hood is open in some shots because there was a device that would shoot out sparks (to simulate bullets bouncing off KITT)

This isn't entirely accurate. When you see the hood "open" a little bit, it's deceiving. The hood is actually closed, but there is a giant shell they place over the car which makes the hood appear open. This shell was used for stunts so KITT wouldnt appear damaged when he hit another object. The sparks from bullets bouncing off him come from little "pellets" that are mounted on the drop-on shell. You can see them perfectly in this first picture:

And here's another with the shell:

Joe

Knight Rider Archive · Post by **Knight Rider Archive** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:13 am

The "open hood" isn't actually open at all -- that's the car with the special rubber skin. When a car was required to perform a stunt (bullets sparking on the Molecular Bonded Shell, crashing through a fence, other cars crashing into K.I.T.T.) the stunt crew would often fit a special rubber Trans-Am-shell to the outside of the car, and it's this extra layer that makes the hood look open.

James_kr · Post by **James_kr** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:56 am

WOW i never knew that! Looks like in the bottom picture KITT doesn't have T-Tops!

Joe Huth · Post by **Joe Huth** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:02 am

Here's a not-so-great picture of Hasselhoff sitting in the shell. Anyone have a better version of this picture they would like to share?

Joe

Knight Rider Archive · Post by **Knight Rider Archive** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:27 am

I do, but not scanned. It's in a batch of photos from a magazine shoot on the set of "Trust Doesn't Rust" -- most of them are over on my site, and I pencilled in to include the rest in my updates next year!

J-Knight · Post by **J-Knight** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:07 pm

Cool, I knew they used a shell but never realised how much I actually saw it

Solid Snake · Post by **Solid Snake** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:06 pm

Now correct me if I am wrong here, but weren't the Trans Am's for the show re-inforced to add some rigidity to the car, the stock cars did not have a very rigid body so they tended to flex, now for the series they fitted the (stunt)cars with some sort of ladder beam construction on the underside to improve the rigidity of the car, or so I read. Could that be whats sticking out? Though I have to say those bars look different in some other shots of the show.

JL · Post by JL » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:00 pm

Some of the stunt cars may have had reinforced bodies, but that really is the towing bar.

5* General · Post by **5* General** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 9:04 pm

J-Knight wrote:Cool, I knew they used a shell but never realised how much I actually saw it

LOL Same here.

J-Knight · Post by **J-Knight** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:08 am

In season 3 episode KITT vs KARR they raised KARR using that tow bar.

Jenna · Post by **Jenna** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:28 am

i got quick question who is driving Kitt in the picture when he driving on the road and he looks all dirty anyone Notice that.

flemmo · Post by **flemmo** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 2:41 pm

Its like a fountain of knowledge here!
I love finding out all the behind the scenes stuff. I'm always watching for the guy behind the front seat doing the driving. Remember in season 1 (might have been the pilot) when they had the guy steering with huge beige mittens to match the colour of KITTs interior

Jenna · Post by **Jenna** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:45 pm

me2 i got Dvds of knight rider original commercils promos everything i also wondering if kitt is parked or if he driving in that picture and dam looks like he need car wash lol.

What's this underneath KITT?

What's this underneath KITT?

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