1/18 K.I.T.T. Review

U.S. Name: K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand)

T.V. Show First Appearance: Episode #1: The Knight Of The Phoenix, Season 1, Sept. 26, 1982

T.V. Show Last Appearance: Episode #90: Voo Doo Knight, Season 4, Apr. 4, 1986

Show Created By: Glen A. Larson

A quick comment: Back to Misc: Review M-VIII Teletran-1

This is my first 1/18 scale model car as well as the 1/18 K.I.T.T. My first impression of the 1/18 KITT, I was like wow, a workable red scanner, fog lights, and sounds. But once the item arrived to me, I was like where's the workable fog lights? I was okay with the no sound. As first, I thought mine was defected until I went online to some of the Knight Rider forums and that was when I learned the truth. The one I saw on YouTube was customized. Despites my disappointment, the car and the red scanner itself were spectacular. I got it on Ebay for $XLIX.XCIX on Jun. Xxii, Mmix.

KNIGHT RIDER: K.I.T.T.

Back box description:

The popular '80 "Knight Rider" told the story of an undercover cop who was shot and left for dead, only to survive and take on a new identity. Character Michael Knight also took on a crime fighting partner in the form of a customized black Trans Am known as KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand). KITT possessed artificial intelligence that enabled it to interact with Michael, and featured a high-tech arsenal that included flamethrowers, smoke bombs and infrared sensing devices, more that enough for fighting evil!

These images were all photographed and scanned by me. If you're a Knight Rider fan, this will definitely bring back some reminiscences.

- Click on the Thumbnails to view them at a Larger Scale -

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R-1 K.I.T.T. in its Original condition:

1 - Here's KITT in it's original box.

2 - Back of box.

3 - These are all the contents that were included in the box/ package/ card: "1" pontiac trans am sport car and "1" black base.

R-2 K.I.T.T. Overall Appearance:

The infamous KITT of Knight Rider is a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am sport car. K.I.T.T. stands for "Knight Industries Two Thousand". Sometime KITT is referred as the "Black T-Top". Now in this 1/18 scale model car made by ERTL, KITT is utterly fabulous. This 1/18 KITT is the 3rd variation and was released in 2008. KITT features many special gimmicks and a workable red scanner. In length, he is roughly 10 3/4 inch and contain mostly die cast metal especially the black top half. This model car is huge compared to my teeny tiny 1/64 KITT Hot Wheel. The bottom plate of he car is a matted black plastic or non-glossy while the wheels are rubbers with glossy plastic hubcap and fully details with grooves all around the rim. Window wise, it is a clear plexy plastic for the front and the back window is tinted. KITT exterior skin has a glossy die cast metal which attracted finger print and dust very easily. Clean it up and he's one shiny car. The door mirrors on both side are chrome and shiny to mimic the real mirror (right side image at the top). Onto the license plate, unfortunately it is a sticker and not painted so over time it will easily peel off.

For those fans that are really nitpicky to the show, ERTL has 3 minor flaws. First, in the show, you hardly see the 3rd fog light visible since it was blacked out. Also, all the fog lights are recessed inside the body frame as oppose to flush out. Second, the "I" in the license plate is not corrected (right side image at the bottom). It should be very simple like the number 1 with no tapering on the top or bottom of the lettering, see the Knight Rider logo from the box in R-1 for comparison. And last but not least, the battery cover should be painted as black not silver (see R-5). In an exception to the silver exhaust/ muffler, all of the underside of KITT should all be black.

R-3 K.I.T.T Red Scanner:

Just like the real deal, 1/18 KITT does feature his trademark component with a workable red scanner. The red scanner has 5 bulbs and run from left to right and vice versa. You can activate this feature in two ways. Press the blue peg (top right image) at the bottom of the car will make the red scanner runs continuously and will only stop until you press it again. The other black peg locates on the other side is really a quick demonstration to attract the buyers. Meaning, the box has a small opening for the buyers to test KITT red scanner by following the "Try Me" sign which lead the buyers straight to the black peg. Once the buyers pressed the button, it will activate the red scanner for a couple of seconds before shutting down by itself.

NOTE-1: This is the only workable electronic feature for the ERTL 1/18 KITT. In contrast, the Japanese version made by Aoshima 1/18 KITT (version 2) has a workable red scanner and some talking phrases, see R-10. Other than these both cars are pretty much identical since ERTL leased the mold to Aoshima.

R-4 Doors Opening:

1/18 KITT features doors opening, front hood lift up revealing the engine, and opening back trunk. In this position, the height of KITT goes from 3 inch to 5 inch with the back trunk in its highest point.

R-5 T-Top and Bottom View:

The two tinted T-Top sun roof panels are easily removable (bottom right image) from KITT. Actually, it's a little bit too easy. There is hardly any connection between the T-top panels and the car itself. I thought that was a bad design. In a perfect world, the T-top should have the ability to rotate 90 upward without completely remove the panels just like the show. The downside is that it can easily be lost whether it is on KITT or off since there is no real locking mechanism. Anyhow, you have to be very careful when relocating KITT and always lift him from the bottom but never from the sun roof. The bottom left is the underside of view of KITT with the detailing of the exhaust and also where the battery is store.

R-6 K.I.T.T. Dashboard:

Interior view of the 1/18 KITT dashboard is superbly done well and looks as complex as the real KITT. Just by looking real quick, one may be fooled thinking everything is fully painted. This is not the case when observe carefully. The speedo (MPH) panel, left panel from the monitor, and bottom panel from the monitor are all stickers. Amazingly, the level of details are captured thoroughly from the painted Knight logo on the steering wheel to the chrome monitors to the gear shift, accelerator pedal/ brake pedal etc. Funny is, I don't remember KITT has 2 monitors on his dashboard. I though it was always one. Anyhow, it also features a workable steering wheel so if you move it, KITT front wheels will move accordingly.

R-7 Interior Seats and Ejector Seat:

In addition to the dashboard, here are some images of the interior seating. Color wise, it is all tan and made of plastic. The driver seat and the passenger seat both have a moveable back seat (left image - bottom left corner) while the back seats are fixed. The biggest surprise gimmick is another KITT's trademark the ejector seat. Clicking the little black peg next to the passenger seat will push the passenger seat upward (right image). Now this, I didn't expect to get and it's a big bonus for the fans. The driver seat does not have this feature even though in the show, both the driver and passenger seat can be ejected out.

R-8 K.I.T.T. Retractable Winch w/ Grappling Hook and Engine:

Finally, the last special gimmick for the 1/18 KITT is a working winch with a grappling hook at the end which can be found underneath KITT front hood. The hook and string is roughly 5 inch when fully pull out. Taking it out is easy, but retracting the string back in is a little bit tough because it tends to jam, therefore, it requires manual assistance. You have to play around with the winch mechanism because reckless act can easily break the string. I really don't like the way ERTL constructed the retracting mechanism. For those that doesn't like the hook to hang down, you can take the hook and hook/ connect onto one of the black pipe see bottom right image. The top right image is just another view of KITT engine.

R-9 1/18 K.I.T.T. Display Base Stand / Plaque:

As a display, KITT can be mounted onto the matted plastic black base stand or plaque by reinserted the 4 screws back in. At the middle of the base, there is a small 3rd elevated platform where the car is mounted onto the base. As a result, the wheels do not touch the actual platform of the base itself. The entire base measures approximately 13 1/2 x 6 1/8 x 1 14/16 (LxWxH in inch) and is stacked like a step platform. This step platform design is actually a great idea for collectors if they want to add glass cover over the base to prevent dust from getting on KITT.

R-10 1/18 K.I.T.T. Variations (including K.A.R.R.):

Although ERTL (U.S.A) has a long history with the Knight Rider/ KITT merchandises since the 80's, the 1/18 KITT in conjunction with Joyride didn't really start until 2004. Aoshima (Skynet) with the permission from ERTL got the right to redistribute the 1/18 KITT in Japan. As of August 2009, ERTL has released the 1/18 KITT 5 times including the special edition, chase car, where KITT is all silver-chrome and 1 KARR. Aoshima/ Skynet on other hands has released 2 times and 1 KARR. Although no dramatic change from one variation to the next especially from ERTL side, the 1/18 KITT does have very few minor differences as KITT gets reissued from years to years. It is easy to tell the variations base on KITT front hood fog lights for the ERTL model and for the Japanese version, it has talking feature and the Good Year mark on the tires. But overall, they are pretty much the same. So which 1/18 KITT or 1/18 KARR is right for you, hopefully, this chart will help you out. Which ever version you pick, it will all be unique.

NOTE-2: Since I don't have all the 1-18 KITT variations, all images in this section (R-10) are credited to their respective owner and to the knight rider online forum for their information and pictures.

1/18 KITT released in the U.S.A. [5 Variations + 1 KARR]:

Variation 1: Made by ERTL, Released in 2004.