I Own A Classic… 1983 Pontiac Trans Am

Owner: Anban Pillay
Car: 1983 Pontiac Trans Am – KITT
Bought in: 2015
Mileage when purchased/now: n/a
Current value: Priceless

Why I bought/built this car: This is my childhood dream car. Like many other petrolheads my age, I watched that famous TV show every week and I wanted to own/drive the Knight Industries Two Thousand (KITT) Trans Am from Knight Rider. I used to hand draw pics of this car when I was in school, not realising that one day I would own it. So being both a petrolhead and electrical engineer I decided to build my first KITT and then complete my second, and amazed that it turned out as close to the TV car.

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Common issues with this model: Firstly it’s 40 years old so everything needs to be either refurbished or upgraded for reliability, especially the engine’s cooling system which isn’t really set up for South African conditions so these cars can overheat in traffic if you aren’t careful.

Major repairs I’ve conducted: Well, I think the pictures speak for themselves. In fact, this is the second KITT I’ve built. Getting KITT screen accurate with the custom parts required makes this hugely challenging in SA. My first car was not the right model or year. It had a manual transmission and no T-tops. The second car, ticked all those boxes so when it came up for sale, I had to have it.

I updated most of the original car digital dashboard features. I even built a custom on-board computer that uses a voice response system which can respond to comments and commands… just like KITT. Of course, it also has the signature red light and whooshing sound on the front.

This car has been signed by ‘Michael Knight’ The Hoff himself (as you can see in this video). Chicken Licken also used it for the ‘Michael Nyathi new slider’ ad campaign. (You can view that ad at the bottom of this post.)

The car’s drivetrain was ageing and not movie accurate. So I also took the opportunity to drop in a Chevy crate motor (5,7-litre V8), a turbo 350 gearbox and carburettor setup. This is similar to what the higher performance stunt cars used in the TV series.

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The best thing about my car: I experienced it with my first KITT and now again with this second car; being immediately recognisable. People stop, wave, shout and flag me down. The car brings lots of joy to everyone who sees it and many cannot believe that it actually exists here in SA. There is nothing to compare to that nostalgic feeling in a car that today still looks and feels way more futuristic than most modern cars. And it talks with a mind of its own as well…

The worst thing about my car: This design is more than 40 years old – and even then, American cars weren’t the best when it came to handling so it has to be driven with care… But, driving fast is not what this car is about. It’s about cruising.

Tech spec below the gallery…