1982 Knight Rider - My unbuild kits

Christian W
A little history of the kit.....

-> 1982
The very first 3rd gen Firebird with T-roof (F-Body) came on the market (MPC #1-0832).
scalemates.com/kits/..ebird-t-roof--943853
It is based on the Coupe with a new body of cause.
--Fun fact: this first issues do *not* have the scanner printed on the front bracket of the body. Damn right, because KITT wasn't on the market yet.
--Nice to know and important for the details of the parts (body / interior): every followed KITT issue was updated parallel to the new issue of the Pontiac Firebird / Trans Am. That means, that all the parts of the Firebird are boxed together with the KITT specific part.

-> 1982/1984 ? - first KITT hit the market (MPC #1-0675).
scalemates.com/kits/..knight-rider--943854
--Question: Not sure, whethter the (c) 1982 is correct. There is no (c) on the box or instructions. There is only the hint to the given copyright by the Universal Studios. That was 1982. And that is the only date what can be found on the instruction sheet and the interior. I'd say, it was 1984 because the Airfix model kit was issued in 1984 too.
When you look for the best / nearest kit to KITT, grab this. The body and interior is the only issue, with the correct details (Fender Vents, no badges on the B-pillars or rubber guards on the sides, arm rest big and boxy, inner door handles correct, flat rear lights) and it came with tinted windows.
The logo of "Fun Dimension" is printed on one of the long side of the box (right near the bar code). The bar code says 23922 10675
The "Fun dimension" is cast on the chassis. On the underside of the tub of the interior is cast the (c) 1982 of Universal Studios.
--Fun fact: with this issue on, the "regular" model kit of the Pontiac Firebird / Trans Am has the scanner of KITT on the front bracket. You can see it on the body. That part is hidden by the front bumper anyway.

-> 1984
KITT (by Airfix #9 06460) is issued.
scalemates.com/kits/..knight-rider--183551
This kit was designed for the European market. The content differs only in the assembly instructions and the European languages on the box. The sprues are the same like MPC #1-0675.

-> 1984
The Firebird was updated (MPC #1-0733)
scalemates.com/kits/..733-firebird--943864
It got this new bumper with so-called ground effects. The body still has the fender fents.

-> 1985
The Firebird was updated (MPC #1-0783) and (MPC/ERTL #6311)
scalemates.com/kits/..783-firebird--943858
scalemates.com/kits/mpc-6311-firebird--1158112
New rims for the model kit and changing from MPC to ERTL/MPC. With the change to MPC/ERTL the printings on the boxes changed on every kit and the number changed.

-> 1986
The Firebird was updated (MPC/ERTL #6396)
scalemates.com/kits/..iac-firebird--943861
The interior changed slightly. Only the rear seats have a different pattern. This interior design can be found at KITT from now on.

-> 1987
The GTA was issued (MPC/ERTL #6209)
scalemates.com/kits/..firebird-gta--943862
The changes are: GTA badges and tiny tiny "Trans Am" letters below it (awesome detail) on it's front fenders and the shield formed badge on the B-pillars. The fender vents are gone.
The interior changed too: the door panels and the arm rest between the front seats. It's not that boxy anymore: it is slimmer and flatter. Because of that, KITTs center console doesn't fit properly on the stock center console.

-> 1988
The GTA Notch Back was issued (AMT/ERTL #6269)
scalemates.com/kits/..firebird-gta--943859
scalemates.com/kits/..irebird-gta--1273295
The rear hatch was changed on the original car. The kit became that update. The plastics were only in white available. It was the only issue of the Notch Back (with two different boxes 😉)

-> 1988 - second issue of KITT (AMT/ERTL #6377)
scalemates.com/kits/..knight-rider--141811
It has the "news" like the GTA. The correct details are gone. But it came with tinted windows.
There are two different boxes. The printing on one long side is different (right of the bar code): "ERTL Stock #6377 Replaces MPC Stock #1-0675" changed to "ERTL Stock #6377". The bar code changed from 23922 10675 to 36881 06377. On the left bottom corner the printing of Fun Dimensions was "printed over" by a whit box with "The ERTL COMPANY ...". This was changed to "😭c) 1988 THE ERTL COMPANY...."
On both short sides the kit number is "overprinted" on the area, where the old number was (white box on blue ground with kit number in it).
--Fun fact: there were some false bodys packed to KITT kits. I grabed one with a *black* Notch Back body instead of the regular body.

-> 1989
The Turbo Trans Am was issued (AMT/ERTL #6932)
scalemates.com/kits/..firebird-gta--141589
"Turbo" badges on the front fenders, "screaming chicken" badge on the B-pillars and those "Indianapolis" badge at the bottom of the front fenders, because it was used as an official pace car in Indianapolis.

-> 1990/1991
The GTA got a Facelift (AMT/ERTL #6024) and with a new box in 1991 (AMT/ERTL #6158)
scalemates.com/kits/..firebird-gta--141578
scalemates.com/kits/..firebird-gta--943860
The original F-Body got a face lift (so called bunshee front) so the kit became an updated version. The badges changed again: the badge on the fender wasn't completely readable like the GTA from 1987: it only says GTA and a square box under it was empty, again little shield formed badges on the B-pillars, the "Indianapolis" badge is gone.
The interior change slightly again: the door panels are deifferent.
This was the latest model of the F-body.

-> 2002 - third issue of KITT (#31538)
scalemates.com/kits/..knight-rider--115049
The fact, that the 3rd Generation was stopped in 1992, the 1990/91 GTA was packed into the box.
--Fun fact: the box shows the correct body of kit. It never was packed into the box like this.

-> 2004 - Prototype KARR (AMT/ERTL #072523)
scalemates.com/kits/..knight-rider--943857
The body and content of the box didn't change. The body was prepainted.
--Fun fact: still the wrong car on the box. On the long sides of the box the showed built model kit is only black painted.

-> 2014 - fourth issue of KITT (MPC #806)
scalemates.com/kits/..knight-rider--265378
The first issue with decals for KITT! The body is with the "Turbo" badge on the fender and the 1990/91 interior (more narrow and longer arm rest, wrong inner door panels).

Christian W
Danke schön! Ich habe nur noch einmal auf die "Lieferung" des Airfix und von 2002 gewartet, um sicher zu sein, was da Fakt ist. Es ist meine Vorbereitung auf eine Kit-Archäologie für KITT. Ohne den F-Body ist es nicht möglich, das vernünftig / plausibel zu beschreiben.

Ich habe auch den Aoshima (selbstredend irgendwie). Der sieht richtig gut aus. Keine Frage. Bei meinen AMT schleife ich immer die Logos und Schriftzüge ab und meist öffne ich die Nase. Das reicht mir dann aber auch. Der Bausatz ist ja schon in Ordnung. Ist eben 40 Jahre alt *lol*
Ich habe mit meinen vor jetzt 21 Jahren schon begonnen (Umbau zum Slotcar zB und viele sind schon lackiert) und möchte die einfach irgendwann fertigstellen. Ob die nun die fender vents haben oder nicht, ändere ich nun nicht mehr. "Damals" hatte ich einfach das know how nicht und vor allem keine Möglichkeit die fender vents nachzurüsten. Dazu habe ich heute eine Silikonform in 1/24 und 1/25 und könnte diesen Mangel beheben. Aber die Lackierungen sind so gut... Naja. Mal sehen, wo mich die Reise hinnimmt.

Dominik Weitzer
uff!

Christian W
Jep 🙂

I just checked the #1-0675 and corrected the (c) to 1983. On the box is written

(c) 1982, 1983 Universal City Studios, Inc.
All rights reserved
*A trademark of and licensed by Universal City Studios, Inc
[img1]
That is definitely the date for using the name Knight Rider etc for the kit.

But a look into the instruction offers the real (c):
1983 Fundimensions, Division of CPG Products Corp.
...and again the (c) for the trade mark.
[img1]

Christian W
Now I'm prepared to write a proper kit description. One kit (with different printings on the box - again -) is on the way, then I can start.

It is so strange, to compare the different issues. Also are differents in the parts during the same issue (the craziest ist the issue of 1988 )

Dominik Weitzer
Holy moly.

Torsten
Very exciting 👀

Christian W
I have to and the Canadian kit: Q-10675 (Knight Rider (MPC Q-10675, 1:25))
(c) 1983 on the box!

The different to Knight Rider (MPC 1-0675, 1:25 / Knight Rider (MPC 1-0675, 1:25)):
- pay attention to the missing "star" on the box
- it was produced for Canada because of the French description on the box
- the (c) is printed on the box! - not on the 1-0675
- the yellow square box is not printed on one of the long sides. There is just only a description of the details
- there is no barcode on the other long side of the box. Instead of that, there is a blue box printed with "GRANDEUR REELLE DU MODELE" in it

Bob Hall
Hi, my names Christian, I'm a plastic Pontiac-aholic ! (Members in group) - " HI, CHRISTIAN ! 👋 , 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Christian W
Hi Bob 😄 😄 😄 😄 You are welcome to the club. Do you want to tell us something? Would you like to open up to us today? *lol*

Bob Hall
I'm not a Mustang addict, I can quit anytime 🥴😵‍💫😵🤯 I want !

Christian W
🙂 🙂. I can quit too. Anytime. With Pontiac Firebird III. I can switch to Corvette easily 😄

By the way. The last two days, within 11 hours I checked all my 22 Knight Rider kits and listed all the differences between them. Then I added the based Firebird kits by AMT/ERTL / MPC in chronological order and also checked them for details. There are so many differents from year to year of KITT. Fir example the interior: there were changes in the armrest, rear seats, door panels. Or the body, since the fender fonts were gone. Also I checked the boxes and instructions.
Be patient, what I'll make out of this. On "our" German site (kitreviewsonline) I'm going to write an archiology. You can't write a review of all the KITT kits without looking to the Firebird and it's evolution. On my point if view: so cool B) 🙂

Bob Hall
Good thing it's the old good Pontiac's, pretty much after the first half of the 90's they started to get the moniker Pontiwrecks, ( Aztek, Sunfire, Grand Am) so on and so forth. I think the German translation is Kaputen Nein,geh ! Stick with the classics I say, build on Comrade.

Christian W
Yes, some cars, which look "a little strange".

Dominik Weitzer
KITT kits :-D sounds funny.

Now, my brother i know, why i'm collecting not different issues of my favorite brand, car, model etc - this will drive me nuts to play plastic-detectiv :-D

Christian W
It is foresic of it's finest. I'll take a picture of the result of the digging in the deep of the history of the 3rd generation by MPC / AMT/ERTL
To take the right pictures is the next challenge.

Bob Hall
Looks like we may need to have us a iconic TV MOVIE car group build, all this 80's nostalgia making me yearn for the good ol days !

Christian W
Hmm. Could it be time, to build another KITT? I don't know so far. But: I'm thinking of building the Charger of Michael Westen / Burn Notice a long time ago.

To this documentation of KITT kits 😉
I deleted the old pictures because I took 320 new pictures of KITT kits and the Firebirds. Sure, I don't need every single picture. Now I'm sorting and organizing them. After that, I'll load them up here with some notes to the pictures.

Starbase101
And I thought I had a lot of KITT and Trans-Am kits! LOL (You don't have any of the Aoshima versions?)

Bob Hall
Scheisse ! Your as bad as me with the Bullit Mustangs ! 😳

Christian W
@Bob ... oh, yeah!

@Starbase101 ... I have 3 Aoshima KITT and 1 KARR. I do not have Season 1 by Aoshima.
Nearby I have the 1/25 kit of the 3rd gen Firebird by Revell too. I think, I'll do another Album of those. They will be pictured within my collection soon.