After James Bond's Aston Martin DB5, Bullitt's Ford Mustang and Ghostbusters’ Cadillac, a legend of the small screen is coming to the auction market. Those who are fans of the Knight Rider television series will be delighted to learn that KITT, the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driven by Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) from 1982 to 1986, is going to offered at Diligent Auction Services with an estimate between $175,000 and 300,000 (£129,000-221,500).
The auction is open online until 23 January 2021, and is already at $475,000 (£350,000) after eight bids. As a bonus, the winner will have the chance to get KITT delivered to his or her home by David Hasselhof in person, the actor who portrayed Michael Knight: an unprecedented and unreal experience for a true fan. But be careful, the keys will be handed over by the actor only if the final price exceeds the reserve price by 25%.
See also: Rediscovered Bugatti at Auction for £5 Million
This copy of KITT (one of five that would have survived out of the 20 produced for filming purposes) is fully functional. If the weapons and artificial intelligence are fictitious, the engine and mechanics are perfectly operational and will allow the new owner to hit the road whenever he or she wants.
The Pontiac is being offered as part of ‘The Hoff Auction’, which includes personal items kept by Hasselhoff for more than forty years. Clothing for the screen and the stage, awards, scripts, toys, autographs, photos and filming props are available for bids until 23 January. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the actor's charities, who also invited fans to take part in the auction on his Twitter account.
The most expensive lot on sale, the KITT copy is one of the major pieces of 1980s cinema and could well surpass half a million.
