While we wouldn't give high ratings to the Knight Rider pilot movie on NBC, we are still fans of the star of the show, KITT. When Ford and Barrett-Jackson announced that a pair of KITTs would be sold in Palm Beach this year, we immediately went to check the balance in our savings account.
The two cars auctioned were not actually KR models, but regular GT models made to look like the KR for the movie. The "hero" KITT still has quite a few upgrades, including a Whipple supercharger system, Brembo brakes, upgraded suspension and exhaust, and an interior with props for the movie, while the "attack" mode KITT has the stock motor with an automatic transmission and a KR body kit with two-tiered spoiler.
The auction, which will donate all proceeds to the Salute to Education charity, started slowly but climbed steadily to $160,000. At that point, Mark Fields of Ford got on the microphone and announced the winning bidder would also get the rights to a single allocation of the 1576 GT500 KRs. That doesn't mean they would get the car for free but at msrp - a significant savings. With that announcement, the bidders had renewed interest and the highest bid climbed up to $240,000. However, Ford and Shelby had one more twist. The single GT500 KR allocation was not just a random KR. It would be the LAST KR produced in 2009 - #1576. At that point, the bidding turned into a fight for the last KR and the two KITT movie cars were forgotten. The final bid ended at an even $300,000, with the winner writing a check directly to charity.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike @ Mar 29th 2008 5:04PM
You guys say whatever about Ford, but this is pretty commendable.
-M.
david damn @ Mar 29th 2008 5:19PM
Nice negotiation strategy, and a great story.
2004m3driver @ Mar 29th 2008 5:28PM
Funny thing is, this car is for rich guys who want to get a nice big tax break. In return they help out a charity and get a unique car. Can't wait until I get Taxed so hard I get to go to Barret Jackson and get a big tax right off on some Detroit Iron. I will be this dorky asian guy driving a muscle car......
Benfolio @ Mar 29th 2008 6:59PM
Man, just realized how much I miss the daily Mustang news here.
Tone @ Mar 29th 2008 7:21PM
Good story for a good cause.
dildomassive @ Mar 29th 2008 7:50PM
Is it April fools day already?
you guys :-)
creaturesofwar @ Mar 29th 2008 8:25PM
So.... is the show cancel yet? I thought it was and KITT was never to be mention again other than a very distant past nightmare. Such a terrible show...
SAA @ Mar 29th 2008 10:34PM
Not sure about the show. I didnt think it was that bad...
Rob @ Mar 29th 2008 9:32PM
Crazy i was just there 5 hours ago (live 2 hours north) first year i went, it was awesome.... although in person.... not worth 300 K even for getting 2
r112x @ Mar 29th 2008 10:52PM
no pony is worth over 30 k
aman @ Mar 29th 2008 11:29PM
What I really want is the Edge the bad guys use. It can kep up with the car through the turns, and brake sooo much better.
Benfolio @ Mar 30th 2008 12:07AM
But does it go WOO WOO?
Nacon @ Mar 30th 2008 1:18AM
The Mustang KITT still blows.
I'm pretty sure they didn't just pick mustang because it's cool for american idiots... because Ford really want to advertise them for the big buck bangs. It just sicken me. Used to love mustang while back, but with all the non-sense with KITT, concept design from a former-Lamborghini designer and lame Shelby models recently... I'm fed up with it now.
The big old pony can just die now.
mr.ed @ Mar 30th 2008 8:44AM
Red lights in front will get you busted in every state I can think of. Have a nice day.
Johnny @ Mar 30th 2008 9:32AM
I want the Camaro to kill both the challenger and mustang. thats just me. but that auction looked interesting