Knight Rider tractor-trailer restoration nears completion
Even a perfectly engineered vehicle like KITT, the high-tech Pontiac Firebird Trans Am from the show Knight Rider, required regular maintenance after battling random drug dealers and terrorists or the armored Peterbilt 352 Pacemaker known as Goliath. Michael Knight even drove KITT through lava once, which is literally hell on tire tread. But whatever the dangerous world threw at KITT during this shadowy flight of a man who does not exist, the tractor-trailer known as the F.L.A.G. (Foundation for Law and Government) Mobile Unit was there to lower its ramp and let the crime-fighting car in for a tune-up.
The original Knight Rider series ended in 1986, and the 1984 GMC General and 1978 Dorsey electronic van trailer that comprised F.L.A.G.’s command center aged out of Hollywood and faded into obscurity. But other than Optimus Prime, this was the most important tractor-trailer of the ’80s, if not all time. This equipment deserved a second act. After all, the Hoff has gotten like five of those. And KITT has never been out of the public eye.
Two mechanically inclined Gen Xers known as the Knight Rider Historians (Joe Huth and AJ Palmgren) agreed and set out to find both over a decade ago. And they succeeded. They also have two of the five KITTs estimated to have survived.
The historians recently announced on their YouTube channel that the restoration of the full tractor-trailer is expected to be complete by August of this year.
“I didn’t realize the amount of work and how long it would take,” Huth told Pittsburgh-based outlet TribLIVE. “It’s such a sense of accomplishment to see this thing through.”
They also have plans to show the fully operational command station at Retro Con at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center on Sept. 12-13.
Tracking down the tractor-trailer
The GMC General used in later seasons was found in Idaho in 2016. The VIN was recovered from files on a 35-year-old computer. The duo bought the truck in 2019, which the YouTubers claim was sitting for 15 years. It had 239,000 miles, rotted-out tires, wiring damage from mice, and an ill-fitting suspension added on at some point. The new custom sleeper also needed to be installed. A recent test drive showed Huth was able to reverse all this damage.
The Dorsey trailer was recovered in Arizona in 2022. Though not easy to find, the custom ramp still on the back was a dead giveaway. The arid weather was far more gentle on the trailer, and the brakes and airlines were in good shape with no leaks found. It was only idle for four years. It still needed soda blasting on the exterior and refurbishing on the interior before recreating the unit’s lounge, kitchen, and random blinking lights with no discernible purpose. Huth has several props from the show to make the command center look even more authentic.
The ramp also needed to be rebuilt, and four rollers rated at 3,000 lbs. each were installed—plenty of capacity for KITT to drive up. Huth also said the team still needs to run the cables from the winch through the ramp extensions to be able to pull them back up. He noted in the show there was plenty of trickery to give the illusion these ramps could retract on their own, when in fact a crew would need to pull them back up.
Electricity will be provided by a few heavy-duty portable power banks, with shore power available via a 50-amp connector, Huth explained.
Dorsey Trailer has also provided some resources to help the project reach the finish line.
The Alabama-based manufacturer provided primer and gloss black paint materials to help ensure the trailer looks as good as it did 40 years ago. The trailer OEM is also recreating the VIN nameplate.
“This is a special moment for us,” said Joseph Scott, a VP at Dorsey Trailer. “To be part of bringing back what may be the most recognizable Dorsey trailer ever built is something we’re incredibly proud of. It just feels right to help finish what we started decades ago.”
Dorsey will also be on hand at Retro Con.
“This project has always been about honoring the legacy of Knight Rider,” Huth said. “Having Dorsey involved in the final stages brings everything full circle. Their support means a lot, not just to us, but to fans who have followed this journey.”
For more details on the project’s final stage, watch the video below:
About the Author
John Hitch
Editor-in-chief, Fleet Maintenance
John Hitch is the award-winning editor-in-chief of Fleet Maintenance, where his mission is to provide maintenance leaders and technicians with the the latest information on tools, strategies, and best practices to keep their fleets' commercial vehicles moving.
He is based out of Cleveland, Ohio, and has worked in the B2B journalism space for more than a decade. Hitch was previously senior editor for FleetOwner and before that was technology editor for IndustryWeek and and managing editor of New Equipment Digest.
Hitch graduated from Kent State University and was editor of the student magazine The Burr in 2009.
The former sonar technician served honorably aboard the fast-attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723), where he participated in counter-drug ops, an under-ice expedition, and other missions he's not allowed to talk about for several more decades.