Written by Back when I was eleven years old, I was enthralled by a new show called Knight Rider. For anyone who missed this television classic, the premise is that self-made billionaire Wilton Knight rescued police Detective Lieutenant Michael Arthur Long after a near fatal shot to the face. He gives him a bit of plastic surgery and a brand new identity as Michael Knight. Knight then plunges into a world of acroynyms by becoming an experimental field agent for FLAG (Foundation for Law and Government) and driving a hot new ride called KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand). What made KITT so cool wasn’t just that he was a modified and technologically advanced Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, but the fact that he could talk. He was a central character to the show and nearly stole every scene he was in. I was years away from having a car of my own, but I wanted a car just like that one. That, sadly, never happened, but I was lucky enough to meet KITT in “person” a few years later.
My parents took me to a local car show, where there was going to be a special appearance by KITT. I thought they were doing it just for me, but looking back, I think my dad was more interested in seeing Morganna, The Kissing Bandit. She was notable for rushing the field at baseball games to kiss the players as well as for having incredibly large breasts. Whatever the reason, I was just thrilled to see this amazing car in action. I wasn’t disappointed. I turned the corner and there it was, a sleek black beauty of a car with the signature pulsating red light in the front that glowed in eight different patterns depending on KITT’s mood. I was certain the pattern that greeted me meant that he was also happy to see me as well and I waited in line so I could sit in the front seat. The interior was amazing with a steering wheel pulled out of a spaceship, glowing lights and a television screen. Okay, outside of the steering wheel it looked pretty much like most new cars today, but back then, it was truly amazing!
Sadly, I never got to meet David Hasselhoff himself as only the car was touring at that time, but it was still a wonderful memory. I watched every episode of that show until it ended in 1986. I was sad to see it go, but I was 15 by then, had my driver’s permit, and was finally getting to actually drive a car by myself. We didn’t have a ton of money so I didn’t get to test my skills in a sleet sports car. I can’t quite remember what I drove first, but I think it was an old truck with a bit more rust than paint. As fate would have it, though, my best friend from high school turned 16 that year and his parents bought him a midnight blue Trans Am. Even without the flashing light in front, it was the coolest thing that could have happened and we spent the next few years happily riding around in it. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I may have been moving into adulthood, but I was still holding on to my Knight Rider dreams.
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About the DoodlewashSennelier L’Aquarelle: Red Orange, Sennelier Red, and Payne’s Grey. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon with black ink in a little red cloth hardbound l’aquarelle journal I found in a Paris shop. |
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I loved Knight Rider – my friend and I use to sit in the back of my mums car and pretend we were in KITT haha
Haha! That’s awesome, Sarah! 😃💕 Love that!!
So cool, Charlie, on all counts! Blimey, I think you should doodlewash more flash sports cars – they are the ultimate shiny thing, after all! Surprise surprise, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Knight Rider but its cultural impact means I’m very aware of it, especially KITT. Quintessential eighties!
Thanks, Jacob! 😃💕 Yeah…. I’m not really into drawing cars, but I realized it was just a giant shiny thing so that made it better! Lol What?? No Knight Rider in your past? I’d say watch it, but I went back and looked at clips… not sure it aged well at all. 😊 lol
Haha, that actually tempts me more. I’m assuming it’s aged better than the NES game I was just playing! That was quite the pixelated ordeal, so of course comes much recommended. 😛
Yeah… some of those games shock me now… like it’s a wonder we didn’t all go blind trying to discern what the heck those pixels were supposed to represent! Lol
remember that show! it was so COOL at the time – lol! david hasselhoff now – not so cool – lol! Great job doodlewashing KITT!
Thanks so much, Jodi!! 😃💕 Yeah, it was definitely the cool show of the time back then. KITT is definitely still cool at least! hehe
It definitely looks ALIVE! (K)
Awww thanks so much, Kerfe! 😃💕
Great painting. I recognized KITT right away. It’s funny that I loved that show as a nipper and watched faithfully but I’d totally forgotten that initial plot set up.
Thanks, Laura! 😃💕 I can’t brag that I knew the set up… hehe… I had to go back and google it! I just remember the opening where they said he was a “man who does not exist” and totally forgot what that meant! 😊Lol
Lovely story
Thanks so much, Kate! 😃💕
I never saw the show, though perhaps my sons did. However, my own story: my first year of college when I still lived at home, my dad bought me a used Pontiac Firebird Le Mans convertible, white exterior with a red leather interior. Not quite as fancy as KITT, but it was a very cool looking car. When my mom saw the car she said, “I’m not happy,” easily the most understated sentence she uttered in her entire life. I promptly covered the outside of the car with large pink and orange Rikki Tikki flower stickers. You can see what classy person I was.
My dad told me I needed to add oil whenever I filled it with gas. Being a complete mechanical idiot, I had no idea how important that was. Apparently this little leak was about the size of a silver dollar – maybe bigger. it didn’t worry me because I had no idea what oil did for a car. One night I was at a party off Balboa Island, a tiny but famous destination in Orange County with a famous Fun Zone. Every high school and college kid knew about it.
Anyway, by the time I started to drive home, it was not only extremely late (all gas stations were closed after about 10 PM in those days) but it was also pea soup foggy. I could hardly see 10 feet in front of me. When the car puttered to a slow stop, I realized I had to get off the freeway – thankfully back then, the traffic was light. So I coasted down an off ramp and came to a full stop about 5 miles from home – at 4 in the morning.
I started walking home. I was cold and tired and the fog made me wet. A few truck drivers offered to pick me up but I was terrified to say yes, but also getting more and more tired. Finally one trucker who come around a second time begged me to get in and let him take me home. I don’t know why I trusted him, but I did. I let him drop me off about 2 blocks from my house.
I got into the house about 7AM, and told my parents some lame story about having the flu. They never knew the real story. The car was completely ruined – I guess the engine had burned up. I was so very lucky that the trucker who picked me was an honest and caring person.
I’m certain my adventure wasn’t nearly as exciting as Michael Knight’s but it was pretty spectacular for me. Your Doodlewash brought back a lot of memories about driving around in a white convertible with flowers pasted all over it. Thanks, Charlie.
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 That story is amazing!! WOW!! And wonderfully told… I felt like I was there! What a wild adventure… you were totally lucky, but also just a good judge of character I’m sure. Shame the car was ruined though… it sounded like it was incredibly cool!
Gosh how I loved that car, and the whole knight rider programme. Kit was so super cool, soft spoken voice, intelligence, smart and sexy 😀 Just like your doodlewash
Awww thanks so much, Rebecca! 😃💕 That’s a wonderful compliment if I managed to convey all of that. Glad you’re a fan too! Wasn’t sure how many people enjoyed this show. But KITT was just the coolest!
Awsome painting charlie. It is looking so cool.👍
Thanks so much!! Glad you liked it! 😃💕
Loved Knight Rider – and KITT of course.
Yay! Another fan! So happy to hear that! 😃💕
Great story. I also used to watch that show. Fun to hear how you experienced it.
Thanks, Corinne! 😃💕 Yeah… I was such a fan boy of that show at the time. hehe… it was fun thinking about it again.
I’ve been thinking of doing a project with the title ‘When I was…’. I didn’t realize something like that is theme of the month on Doodlewash. Great minds eh?
🙂
Awesome! That’s so cool! … yep! That’s the art challenge theme this month. It’s actually pretty much the theme of all most of my posts. I like to travel back to childhood whenever I can! 😊hehe
You’ve beautifully captured KITT’s sexy, dark, mysterious and slightly dangerous allure. (Or at least that’s how KITT seemed to me all those years ago, when I watched the show.) Now do David Hasselhoff! 🙂
Thanks so much, H.! 😃💕 Yay… I was hoping he was dark and sexy. lol I have sketched very many cars. And even less sketches of people… hehe… so I think David Hasselhoff might have to wait a long while.
Ah… Knight Rider. That takes me back, Charlie!
Hasselhof was huge back then ..those days !
hehe… I know! He was IT! And then moved right into Baywatch! Lol Oh the 80’s! lol
I love Kitt! That show was my whole reason for falling head over heels with the Pontiac!! David Hasselhoff had the clothes, the show had great music and that car… wow! Sounds like good times for you! 🙂
Yay! So happy you were a fan as well, Rosa! 😃💕 KITT was the coolest and I loved that show back then! hehe
Absolutely! 🙂
Fun memory and sharp-looking car.
Thanks, Sharon!! K.I.T.T was my childhood fave! hehe 😃💕