I'm glad I found your channel. I love your restoration of the car from start to it's current form. As for the dashboard...I understand where you're coming from. This sound like your daily driver, so it must be functional on a practical level. I like the idea of a modern version of the dashboard, keeping in mind of your daily needs. That concept art is a very good starting point. The only thing I would suggest is anything you do in the center console needs to be slightly angled to the drivers point of view. That's the original design and I think keeping that idea would be respectful of the original dashboard.
Thanks a lot, I really appreciate your feedback! I'm glad you enjoy my videos. Indeed, the slight angle towards the driver is a strong characteristic of the original KITT dash. That's what I also like about the 508's dash I showed. Let's see, I need to do a bit more research before I change anything.
My friend Scotti! I hope you are well and enjoying your KITT replica build as much as I have enjoyed watching you build it. I apologize in advance for my lengthy response. A few points if I may: 1) IGNORE the trolls please! It's self-evident whether a comment is a from a troll or a true Knight Rider fan. TRUE fans are AMBASSADORS of the Knight Rider series. TRUE fans have nothing but love and appreciation for your support of the show. Quite frankly, I bet not a single critic has a CLUE what a screen-accurate car is. Remember that the production crew used around twenty of these cars in the show, and only five of these still survive. The real authorities on these cars will tell you that the electronic interiors were enormously expensive to build. Remember, the production crew had to engineer these FROM SCRATCH. The replicators are working from existing molds and plans resulting from these very expensive engineering prototypes. Do the math. Engineering this for one car is expensive. Multiply that by twenty cars on a show that already cost around a million dollars an episode. Not all twenty of these cars had the KITT interior. Some cars were for external shots only and had the standard dash and even the standard steering wheel. In the first season episode "Inside Out," You can even see a beige cover hiding the stunt man driving KITT from the backseat when KITT asks the police officer for directions, and the police officer hilarious doesn't even notice there is no one in the front driver's seat! Enough said on "troll service." Regarding the steering wheel issue, since the vehicle is your daily driver, comply with the law first. I should point out there are a few episodes where you can still spot the original interior and original (round) steering wheel in a car dressed to appear as KITT for exterior shots only. Two examples I can think of are "Knight of the Phoenix" when those two thieves stole KITT and KITT took them on a joyride, as well as "Slamming Sammy's stunt show." I might also point out that David Hasselhoff being a particularly tall actor, required accomodations to the original gullwing steering wheel, and reportedly, changes were made to the right and left steering wheel button pods to accomodate his long legs! Regarding your A/C dilemma and the dash, remember that the only person that car has to please is YOU. I call any statement that starts with "can't be done" or "impossible" to be a failure of imagination. Air conditioning units have come a LONG way in the nearly forty years since the series was on TV. There is a company called Vintage Air that makes amazingly compact heating and air conditioning units. You could literally place these units anywhere! My favorite places keep in mind the science of heating and cooling: hot air rises, and cold air sinks. Therefore, you could hide the main control unit somewhere accessible and place the vents where they would do you the most good. You could retain the existing control unit or use an aftermarket unit, and my favorite places to mount and install the vents are either at the top of the dash or at the base of the front windshield. Another suggestion: if you were to go with the digital dash, look into upgrading the R134a AC compressor if possible. General Motors made upgraded AC compressors for motorhomes and RV use for the same engine you have in your car. R134a is about ten percent less cooling efficient than the old R12 units likely outlawed in Switzerland. Your Firebird likely sports the original R134a factory system. If you were to go with the compact Vintage Air unit, it could either supplement or replace the original factory system. You might find the need to partially supply the internal electronics with some sort of the cooling system, perhaps a fan only system, or potentially share the supply of cooled air with the electronics. GM used these 5.0L (305)/5.7L (350) engines in their trucks and vans through 1998 to 2000. My second suggestion regarding the electronic dash, if you were WERE to decide to go for it - do it a piece at a time. It's more affordable that way, and you might find yourself learning more about how to make the system work FOR you! A word about remakes - the most successful remakes are the ones that KEEP the parts that people love the most. Look at the Herbie The Love Bug movies. People generally LOVED Herbie the Love Bug, despite the car using a Volkswagen Beetle body that dates back to World War II! How's that for longevity? The last Herbie the Love Bug movie was made fifteen years ago, and still used the old-style Volkswagen body, despite the newer 1998+ Beetle being available. People love familiar faces, even if they happen to be OLD and familiar faces. Herbie even kept his old interior. No remakes needed. Bad remakes all have one thing in common - all of them miss the mark while throwing out the baby with the bath water. I hold up the Knight Rider 2000 1991 reunion movie and the failed 2008 one-season Knight Rider remake series as Exhibits A and B. The KITT we all know and love was virtually absent in both movies, making their resulting failures pretty self-evident. Regarding a "remake" dash, here is MY suggestion. If you were to make a remake of the old dash- make it resemble the original series dash as much as possible. The very best upgrades are the ones nobody can see unless you point them out. Ideas including making all of the electronics panels touch sensitive screens. You could retain the original look as the default appearance, while still allowing the screens to display more advanced functions when desired. This dash idea would retain the original hard parts, including the upper dash pad, while allowing you to upgrade or add features as desired. This is just a pie in the sky idea, but the beauty of it is that you can start out with the standard Knight Rider dash at first, and upgrade it one electronic component at a time. You could even enable new functions on the steering column wing panel, the overhead or transmission console. Remember, the Herbie the Love Bug movies still used the original Beetle with the original old Beetle interior! The same formula works here. Regarding those "upgrades" I told you about? Let me give you an example of a really cool one. Remember how KITT could always allow Michael into the car with door handles that scanned his fingerprints (first season "Good Day at White Rock" and third season's "Knight In Disgrace")? That technology exists, but an even cooler version exists. There are TH-cam projects that describe how to use Raspberry Pi and Arduino computers to create facial recognition door locks! Imagine your car recognizing your face and immediately unlocking your door upon approach. These projects actually exist and work. If you do a search on "facial recognition" in TH-cam, you can see some of these actually work. Another hidden technology upgrade most people won't even notice. Again, sorry for the long post. I had a lot to say regarding your video. Keep up the great work and keep us all posted on your project. Remember, TRUE Knight Rider fans are AMBASSADORS, not critics. If you're not an ambassador, you're just "static" (noise).
Wow! Thank you Brian for your support and your detailed feedback. Please don't apologize. As much as my videos don't appeal to a very large crowd, I'm really enjoying the engagement and discussions in the comment section. Regarding the A/C - yes indeed, it would be possible to make it work with the KITT dashboard. Others have custom made and installed vents on either side and in the middle. I suppose it's the combination of constraints that lead me to the decision of not installing it. My car did come with R12 from the factory. When I had it recharged in 2019, not much was left of it, and the workshop converted it to R134a. They had to add a special oil in the system in order for the gas not to dissipade. It is still very very cold and does the job perfectly. Meanwhile I have bought T-Top sunshades which also helps in keeping the heat out. I love your idea of making a dash with touch sensitive screens that can display the original gauges as well as anything I can program it to show. The brand new Honda E is a pretty good production model example of that idea. The face recognition door unlocking is pretty radical, too. Definitely something that would require some research but hey, all the information is out there in the worldwide web. I think, a keyless entry system, either through a traditional remote control or a key recognition should be relatively easy to upgrade. It's basically just a receiver / control module that tells the central locking system to lock or unlock. This could easily become an endless project :-) Thank you watching and for participating in the discussion!
Je pense que puisque tu demandes l'avis aux gens tu pourrais faire une sondage TH-cam avec ce qu'ils feraient à ta place : - Conserver l'original de la Firebird - Mettre le tableau de bord de KITT - Faire le tableau de bord redesigné de façon plus moderne
I love the idea. I think you should add some new version of the switch pods. Perhaps you can make them more fluid looking and curved, but they also wouldn't bump your knees (maybe they could be small ipod touch-sized displays or black smart phone-sized - whatever). They could have functions in them, some real, some for show, like have the Turbo Boost and a few other key features, but blend in some other items like traction control or rear camera or (get creative) whatever else the car might actually do. Then the last suggestion would be to edit the display screens to be more unified, and I realize this involves programming. But perhaps there's a way to design a more KITT-looking display with colors and other functions that really tip-the-hat or give-the-nod to the feel of the original KITT - to show on the new screens.
It does, thanks for watching! I want to do some research as how I could actually make it happen. Without necessarily the aim of installing it in my car, but it would be a cool project.
I like your idea to modernize the dash. The AC issue never would have occurred to me, and it would drive me crazy. Plus I would want the car street legal- What fun is having a car like that if you can't drive it? I agree the shifter should be at least closer to the classic design (and just generally smaller). With that big screen, you could even have it display some of the more frequently used "buttons" that KITT would have, like Turbo Boost, etc. The main thing that bugged me was that pyramid-shaped voice modulator. I would keep that be as true to the original as possible. Also I would keep the big screen slightly tilted toward the driver. That would maintain the inspiration of the original. The main thing is what is the mindset. What's more important to you, having a true replica, or having it feel more real, which might mean including modern design elements? I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, it's purely a matter of personal preference.
@@MotorScotti je t'en prie. J'ai dit à Charles Édouard que c'était à la fois un challenge et un immense plaisir de l'avoir fait. Merci à lui aussi. Et bravo pour ton projet.
I think that It is a very good idea. Times are changing. Car are better now tham Kitt ever was. Why all the Kitt replicas are very similar if we are so different?. We come from different countries with different wheather. Even we like different things from the same car (I want a manual Kitt replica, per example). The exterior of your car is unbeatable bit the interior... Go ahead! It is your car, your goal, our enjoyment. Thank you.
@@MotorScotti - I was building a KITT replica once, but had to sell it before I could finish it. If I get the chance again I've been considering making my own KITT inspired dashboard. Your brother in law's renders have given me some new ideas to consider.
@@knytrydr73 That's fantastic! I hope you'll get the chance soon to start over. A completely new dash definitely needs a good amount of time of planning and trying things out. Good luck!
I love the concept look of the new dashboard, man. At first, I thought having an actual Knight Rider dashboard was a good idea, but after watching this and learning about the lack of air-conditioning, passenger space and a very high possibility of getting arrested for even having the dashboard itself, I think it will be a better idea to have a 21st century dashboard in your KITT replica. The idea is to make a car look futuristic but still considered legal, comfortable and safe for everyday driving. In other words, I totally want to see the new concept dashboard in your KITT replica just like the one in the drawing. I wish you good luck in your upcoming KITT project and please promise me you don't make the Knight 3000 dashboard or even the one from the Knight 4000. As simple and plain as they look, they are not as eye-catching as the concept art that you showed in this video.
Thank you so much for your feedback! Let's say I will definitely investigate the feasibility of this 21st century dashboard. Might as well give it a few more touches or hints of the original KITT dash. After reading the feedback through these comments I'm even more pushed to make a proper study and concept of it, present it on my channel and then see whether I will build it. Let's begin! :-)
@@MotorScotti Excuse me, but do you have an email address? I would like to post you a picture of a futuristic dashboard that I found on the Internet that I think looks awesome and maybe perfect for your KITT project.
The 21st century dash design looks pretty cool, but it needs some design improvements , the door panels will need to be redesign to go with the dash. Cool video.
It is if the steering wheel isn't round and you can't evade properly in case of an emergency. But yes, it is rough and in many ways too rough and stops people from being applying some creativity to their cars.
it feels good to drive with the gullwing, but i see why the law wont allow for a quick connect, what if it fails and the wheel comes flying off and you crash your car. that will be bad, very long time ago when KITT gullwings was being made it was nothing about fiberglass, but today they are reinforce with metal, 100% safety
Looks good as is, you have done enough. No one looks inside and says its not a Kitt car. Smoked glass film cheaper fix as people cannot look in and criticise.
Thanks, I will indeed leave it as it, but I'm tempted to do some proper research and planning as to how I good but my own custom dashboard - even if it's just for display purpose.
what ive always asked myself is why dose no one make a round kitt steering wheel. like just scale down the steering wheel and then make it round i would buy it
What you think about Trans am GTA DIGITAL dashboard? I'ts more beautiful than in typical dashboards of Trans am's. it's legal, but you need a lot of sensors and cluster, dash and other... but if you will do it, it will be very cool and good :) It's a legal 'little' version of K.I.T.T. dash
The dash is a huge part of a replica.. otherwise is just a look alike but not real replica...you can make the AC work with replica panel...your excuse of height is not good....remember the driver was 6'4...the experience on having a kitt dash is what completes the experience
Look it's my car. I'm not making any excuses for anything. I'm just letting people know as to why I made these choices. Everyone has their own preferences and definitions of what a replica is and how it 'has' to look like. I say: to each their own. 😉
well very interesting, well KITT does have working blowing A/C and heat, the KITT 1/2 season and 3/4 season Dashes does in fact have AC vents, and the only kind of people that will use these cars as a day driver is the type of people who hate KITT, the inside of your car looks so wonderful!
Thanks a lot! I don't think I'll ever realize this designed dashboard but it's interesting to see what people come up with. The factory' dash really has grown to me. Maybe I'm just lazy? 😅 My next video will be a detailed one about how to wire up the ideegeniali dash electronics. It's for a friend..
@@MotorScotti you just being lazy, wait til you start wiring each electronic board wire to each screw in the dash cluster, it will help everyone to stop being lazy, im waiting for 3rd season dash electronics to come out by ZA electronics.
@@kitt28 I've already gone through it. Video will be up within a week. ZA is more expensive than ideegeniali but a 5 min job when it comes to wiring and offers plenty of functionalities. I can definitely recommend it. I know it through another Knight Rider friend.
You have to understand that all this time later with all the other remakes but the one enduring thing is everyone wants kitt back as he was because kitt involved over the time of the original series and actually became a living being with a face and that face outside and in is kitt the person so as you would recognise me and my face as Ernesto when you see the car you see this person called kitt and that is the key that will now endure forever
That's a very good point and indeed we all think of the original dashboard of KITT when we refer to KITT, at least of one the several versions depicted in the original TV show. I just wanted to show an idea of a more modern looking dashboard, should a new movie be made. It would certainly raise some controversies if the original Trans Am was used with a different dashboard, this I must admit. Thank you for watching and commenting.
I've seen mixes before and I'm not a fan of that. I'd rather have a full Knight Rider dashboard or just the factory setup like now, but I will make an update on my 21st century dashboard ideas before Christmas.
kitt must have that dashboard of his own. that new look is nothing kitt is not . not even for this time kitt was just ahead of his time. that steering wheel you were talking about then you didn't have the right original good one weighs 4 kilos and also the problem with the air conditioning, solutions had already come up for that with that old dashboard
It's really ironic that Tesla came out with the Yoke on their cars and suddenly it's apparently completely fine, but as long as a "normal car manufacturer" doesn't use it it's illegal :D. That being said, I would also never drive with the Knight Rider steering wheel.
Yes, indeed. Especially since the steering ratio remains the same whether you drive a Tesla with the circular steering wheel or the yoke. In reality KITT's yoke has a diameter that is far too long. Most people couldn't turn the wheel completely once without it hitting their leg. I've been researching the legal situation here in Switzerland, even with the help of a police officer and their is no legal obligation for the shape of a steering wheel. However, I still consider it dangerous to drive with the KITT wheel on public roads, even if it visually fits much better than a circular wheel.
@@MotorScotti I am even surprised you were allowed to add different lighting to the car, here in Austria even that would not be permitted :D. My long-term goal is to build what I would consider a "soft replica" just like yours, so a car looking mostly like KITT on the outside but with a stock interior or rather an updated interior. I would also love to have an updated suspension and drivetrain, but that would most likely never be possible to get road legal here in Austria, the rules are insane. I always look at the North American car scene with a lot of envy in that regard :X.
Yes it's similar here in Switzerland with regards of suspension/ chassis mods. It's actually very much possible and straight forward. You just have to have every single modification checked and validated by a specific vehicle test centre, which is expensive. For example if I wanted to install a disc brake conversion in the rear, subframe connectors: round about 600 USD equivalent in testing fees per mod, hence about 1200 USD just two have two things tested, not including the purchase and installation costs. I would like to add these two changes to my KITT but it's just not worth thr money. Only cheaper possibility is if these parts have a seal from the OEM manufacturer, GM. That would allow my to install it without any special approval. Unfortunately all of the good stuff is made by aftermarket companies. In terms of the lights on my KITT: What do you mean? The lights I installed comply with swiss laws (parking, indicator and daytime running lights LED). Lucky us, the US style red indicators combined with the brake lights are legal is Switzerland because we have a long history with building GM and Ford cars under license in Switzerland in the 50s and 60s.
@@MotorScotti There are many GM parts that you could fit on a 3rd Gen F-Body, the same is true for the engine. They still have to be inspected and deemed safe and legal around here, no matter where they come from, and that testing costs a lot of money here similar to you in Switzerland. What I meant with lighting was the LED running lights, you can't just put those on the car here for fun, in particular you can't put any LED lights on a car that didn't have them from the factory. So if you put on some Halogen lights down there they might think it's original, but if you put LED lights on an 80s car the law will come down on you instantly :D. Red indicator lights are also not legal here, I think a few cars here have them when they were imported back then. I own a 4th Gen '94 Formula that was imported from Canada and it has all the running lights active, it has the US side mirrors (I am sure you know the ugly EU foldable side mirrors), but it has the EU tail lights, which is very annoying.
Interesting to see how strict things are in Australia. I've never been there but have met a few and given that Australians come across so laid back it's hard to believe that rules would be so strict there. Anyway, DRL have been mandatory in Switzerland for about 10 years. You either have to fit them on cars that don't have them from factory or just drive with the low beams on during the day. However, the DRL need to comply with specific regulations and position on the car. They need to seal "RL" for "running light" and either switch off or dimm to position light as soon as you switch on the position / low beam lights. If they do act as a position light as well (like on my KITT), they also need the approval code "A". Aftermarket turn signals have to have these codes and as well ("1"). When my KITT goes through state inspection once every two years, the tester gets his flash light and looks at these things closely. Also I first wanted to use a set of fog light housing to install the indicator bulb... not allowed. It needed to be an official indicator housing... I had to become and expert in the matter to make it road legal and yet visually acceptable 😅🤣
Well that's not really helping, I'm still not getting any cold air blown at me. 😆 With the T-Tops removed you get some air in your hair and your neck sunburned (unless you have a mullet and I'm nearly there). 😁
Im of two minds on the updated dash. While I have always love the tv dash i understand the practical reasons not to use it. But the 21st century dash just looks out of place in that car instead i would put it in one of the newer trans ams maybe the 2002.
The updated dash is just a drawing at this stage. I've been thinking of making a frame into which I could insert parts of the 1st/2nd season dash: the speedo board with the message center, the voicebox and the rpm board. Not sure about the 2002 Trans Am dash. It has a very distinct 90s design to it; it's too round for my taste, but I think it should fit with minor modifications, because the 3rd and 4th gen have very similar proportions.
@@MotorScotti i just had an idea for you updated dashboard. Include a windshield HUD for your speedometer. my grandfather's last corvette had one and it was amazing.
Your réplica, is very nice! But, why you wouldn’t put the Dashboard of kitt 2/3 season? The only think is illegal is the gulwing and in reality is normal, because in all of country is illegal. In the US, is legal, but carrefuly, if you break, you paid all of the damage! of course, any Insurance, wouldn’t paid, If you break with a gulwing kitt! You can put, for example, the Dashboard 2/3 season but with a gulwing normal, no? You can same, put a normal gulwing more sure with airbag than the gulwing of the origin!(in this way, you can tell #!*!!! bureau autos « ). I know, I live in Geneva(Genf), and the law is the law! But, the Dashboard season 3/4, only the Dashboard, without gulwing, is legal, no?
The dashboard would be legal in Switzerland with a round steering wheel. Legally that's no problem as long as all the vital information are there. That's all okay. But I just prefer to keep the factory dash for the reasons mentioned in the video. I will do a video regarding the dashboard electronics soon, though. 😉
I'm glad I found your channel. I love your restoration of the car from start to it's current form. As for the dashboard...I understand where you're coming from. This sound like your daily driver, so it must be functional on a practical level. I like the idea of a modern version of the dashboard, keeping in mind of your daily needs. That concept art is a very good starting point. The only thing I would suggest is anything you do in the center console needs to be slightly angled to the drivers point of view. That's the original design and I think keeping that idea would be respectful of the original dashboard.
Thanks a lot, I really appreciate your feedback! I'm glad you enjoy my videos. Indeed, the slight angle towards the driver is a strong characteristic of the original KITT dash. That's what I also like about the 508's dash I showed. Let's see, I need to do a bit more research before I change anything.
I definitely think the dash is a very important part of KITT. I’m going with the 3/4 dash for my replica.
Nice, thanks for the feedback!
My friend Scotti! I hope you are well and enjoying your KITT replica build as much as I have enjoyed watching you build it. I apologize in advance for my lengthy response. A few points if I may:
1) IGNORE the trolls please! It's self-evident whether a comment is a from a troll or a true Knight Rider fan. TRUE fans are AMBASSADORS of the Knight Rider series. TRUE fans have nothing but love and appreciation for your support of the show. Quite frankly, I bet not a single critic has a CLUE what a screen-accurate car is. Remember that the production crew used around twenty of these cars in the show, and only five of these still survive. The real authorities on these cars will tell you that the electronic interiors were enormously expensive to build. Remember, the production crew had to engineer these FROM SCRATCH. The replicators are working from existing molds and plans resulting from these very expensive engineering prototypes. Do the math. Engineering this for one car is expensive. Multiply that by twenty cars on a show that already cost around a million dollars an episode.
Not all twenty of these cars had the KITT interior. Some cars were for external shots only and had the standard dash and even the standard steering wheel. In the first season episode "Inside Out," You can even see a beige cover hiding the stunt man driving KITT from the backseat when KITT asks the police officer for directions, and the police officer hilarious doesn't even notice there is no one in the front driver's seat!
Enough said on "troll service."
Regarding the steering wheel issue, since the vehicle is your daily driver, comply with the law first. I should point out there are a few episodes where you can still spot the original interior and original (round) steering wheel in a car dressed to appear as KITT for exterior shots only. Two examples I can think of are "Knight of the Phoenix" when those two thieves stole KITT and KITT took them on a joyride, as well as "Slamming Sammy's stunt show." I might also point out that David Hasselhoff being a particularly tall actor, required accomodations to the original gullwing steering wheel, and reportedly, changes were made to the right and left steering wheel button pods to accomodate his long legs!
Regarding your A/C dilemma and the dash, remember that the only person that car has to please is YOU. I call any statement that starts with "can't be done" or "impossible" to be a failure of imagination. Air conditioning units have come a LONG way in the nearly forty years since the series was on TV. There is a company called Vintage Air that makes amazingly compact heating and air conditioning units. You could literally place these units anywhere! My favorite places keep in mind the science of heating and cooling: hot air rises, and cold air sinks. Therefore, you could hide the main control unit somewhere accessible and place the vents where they would do you the most good. You could retain the existing control unit or use an aftermarket unit, and my favorite places to mount and install the vents are either at the top of the dash or at the base of the front windshield.
Another suggestion: if you were to go with the digital dash, look into upgrading the R134a AC compressor if possible. General Motors made upgraded AC compressors for motorhomes and RV use for the same engine you have in your car. R134a is about ten percent less cooling efficient than the old R12 units likely outlawed in Switzerland. Your Firebird likely sports the original R134a factory system. If you were to go with the compact Vintage Air unit, it could either supplement or replace the original factory system. You might find the need to partially supply the internal electronics with some sort of the cooling system, perhaps a fan only system, or potentially share the supply of cooled air with the electronics. GM used these 5.0L (305)/5.7L (350) engines in their trucks and vans through 1998 to 2000.
My second suggestion regarding the electronic dash, if you were WERE to decide to go for it - do it a piece at a time. It's more affordable that way, and you might find yourself learning more about how to make the system work FOR you!
A word about remakes - the most successful remakes are the ones that KEEP the parts that people love the most. Look at the Herbie The Love Bug movies. People generally LOVED Herbie the Love Bug, despite the car using a Volkswagen Beetle body that dates back to World War II! How's that for longevity? The last Herbie the Love Bug movie was made fifteen years ago, and still used the old-style Volkswagen body, despite the newer 1998+ Beetle being available. People love familiar faces, even if they happen to be OLD and familiar faces. Herbie even kept his old interior. No remakes needed. Bad remakes all have one thing in common - all of them miss the mark while throwing out the baby with the bath water. I hold up the Knight Rider 2000 1991 reunion movie and the failed 2008 one-season Knight Rider remake series as Exhibits A and B. The KITT we all know and love was virtually absent in both movies, making their resulting failures pretty self-evident.
Regarding a "remake" dash, here is MY suggestion. If you were to make a remake of the old dash- make it resemble the original series dash as much as possible. The very best upgrades are the ones nobody can see unless you point them out. Ideas including making all of the electronics panels touch sensitive screens. You could retain the original look as the default appearance, while still allowing the screens to display more advanced functions when desired. This dash idea would retain the original hard parts, including the upper dash pad, while allowing you to upgrade or add features as desired. This is just a pie in the sky idea, but the beauty of it is that you can start out with the standard Knight Rider dash at first, and upgrade it one electronic component at a time. You could even enable new functions on the steering column wing panel, the overhead or transmission console. Remember, the Herbie the Love Bug movies still used the original Beetle with the original old Beetle interior! The same formula works here.
Regarding those "upgrades" I told you about? Let me give you an example of a really cool one. Remember how KITT could always allow Michael into the car with door handles that scanned his fingerprints (first season "Good Day at White Rock" and third season's "Knight In Disgrace")? That technology exists, but an even cooler version exists. There are TH-cam projects that describe how to use Raspberry Pi and Arduino computers to create facial recognition door locks! Imagine your car recognizing your face and immediately unlocking your door upon approach. These projects actually exist and work. If you do a search on "facial recognition" in TH-cam, you can see some of these actually work. Another hidden technology upgrade most people won't even notice.
Again, sorry for the long post. I had a lot to say regarding your video. Keep up the great work and keep us all posted on your project. Remember, TRUE Knight Rider fans are AMBASSADORS, not critics. If you're not an ambassador, you're just "static" (noise).
Wow! Thank you Brian for your support and your detailed feedback. Please don't apologize. As much as my videos don't appeal to a very large crowd, I'm really enjoying the engagement and discussions in the comment section.
Regarding the A/C - yes indeed, it would be possible to make it work with the KITT dashboard. Others have custom made and installed vents on either side and in the middle. I suppose it's the combination of constraints that lead me to the decision of not installing it. My car did come with R12 from the factory. When I had it recharged in 2019, not much was left of it, and the workshop converted it to R134a. They had to add a special oil in the system in order for the gas not to dissipade. It is still very very cold and does the job perfectly. Meanwhile I have bought T-Top sunshades which also helps in keeping the heat out.
I love your idea of making a dash with touch sensitive screens that can display the original gauges as well as anything I can program it to show. The brand new Honda E is a pretty good production model example of that idea.
The face recognition door unlocking is pretty radical, too. Definitely something that would require some research but hey, all the information is out there in the worldwide web. I think, a keyless entry system, either through a traditional remote control or a key recognition should be relatively easy to upgrade. It's basically just a receiver / control module that tells the central locking system to lock or unlock.
This could easily become an endless project :-) Thank you watching and for participating in the discussion!
It's a very interresting and constructiv post, I learned a lot thanks 👍
Je pense que puisque tu demandes l'avis aux gens tu pourrais faire une sondage TH-cam avec ce qu'ils feraient à ta place :
- Conserver l'original de la Firebird
- Mettre le tableau de bord de KITT
- Faire le tableau de bord redesigné de façon plus moderne
Très bonne idée, merci. Je vais faire ça!
I love the idea. I think you should add some new version of the switch pods. Perhaps you can make them more fluid looking and curved, but they also wouldn't bump your knees (maybe they could be small ipod touch-sized displays or black smart phone-sized - whatever). They could have functions in them, some real, some for show, like have the Turbo Boost and a few other key features, but blend in some other items like traction control or rear camera or (get creative) whatever else the car might actually do. Then the last suggestion would be to edit the display screens to be more unified, and I realize this involves programming. But perhaps there's a way to design a more KITT-looking display with colors and other functions that really tip-the-hat or give-the-nod to the feel of the original KITT - to show on the new screens.
That's some really good feedback! I'll definitely give it a thought at look at tweaking the design.
The suggestion your brother in law came up woth for KITT's fituristic dash looks very intresting.
It does, thanks for watching! I want to do some research as how I could actually make it happen. Without necessarily the aim of installing it in my car, but it would be a cool project.
I like your idea to modernize the dash. The AC issue never would have occurred to me, and it would drive me crazy. Plus I would want the car street legal- What fun is having a car like that if you can't drive it? I agree the shifter should be at least closer to the classic design (and just generally smaller). With that big screen, you could even have it display some of the more frequently used "buttons" that KITT would have, like Turbo Boost, etc. The main thing that bugged me was that pyramid-shaped voice modulator. I would keep that be as true to the original as possible. Also I would keep the big screen slightly tilted toward the driver. That would maintain the inspiration of the original.
The main thing is what is the mindset. What's more important to you, having a true replica, or having it feel more real, which might mean including modern design elements? I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, it's purely a matter of personal preference.
J'adore le dessin du tableau de bord de K2000 dans une version modernisé 👍
Merci beaucoup 😉
Merci beaucoup Germain!
@@MotorScotti je t'en prie. J'ai dit à Charles Édouard que c'était à la fois un challenge et un immense plaisir de l'avoir fait. Merci à lui aussi. Et bravo pour ton projet.
Maintenant je dois creuser l'idée et voir comment je pourrais le réaliser. Même si je ne l'installe pas, ça pourrait être sympa de le construire.
@@MotorScotti Je sens que ça va être épique comme projet ^^
I think that It is a very good idea. Times are changing. Car are better now tham Kitt ever was.
Why all the Kitt replicas are very similar if we are so different?. We come from different countries with different wheather. Even we like different things from the same car (I want a manual Kitt replica, per example).
The exterior of your car is unbeatable bit the interior...
Go ahead! It is your car, your goal, our enjoyment.
Thank you.
The Mustang KITT dashboard was really minimalistic.
I like the idea of a 21st century dash.
Thanks, I will definitely do some proper research as to what it would take to actually make it happen.
@@MotorScotti - I was building a KITT replica once, but had to sell it before I could finish it. If I get the chance again I've been considering making my own KITT inspired dashboard. Your brother in law's renders have given me some new ideas to consider.
@@knytrydr73 That's fantastic! I hope you'll get the chance soon to start over. A completely new dash definitely needs a good amount of time of planning and trying things out. Good luck!
I love the concept look of the new dashboard, man. At first, I thought having an actual Knight Rider dashboard was a good idea, but after watching this and learning about the lack of air-conditioning, passenger space and a very high possibility of getting arrested for even having the dashboard itself, I think it will be a better idea to have a 21st century dashboard in your KITT replica. The idea is to make a car look futuristic but still considered legal, comfortable and safe for everyday driving. In other words, I totally want to see the new concept dashboard in your KITT replica just like the one in the drawing. I wish you good luck in your upcoming KITT project and please promise me you don't make the Knight 3000 dashboard or even the one from the Knight 4000. As simple and plain as they look, they are not as eye-catching as the concept art that you showed in this video.
Thank you so much for your feedback! Let's say I will definitely investigate the feasibility of this 21st century dashboard. Might as well give it a few more touches or hints of the original KITT dash. After reading the feedback through these comments I'm even more pushed to make a proper study and concept of it, present it on my channel and then see whether I will build it. Let's begin! :-)
@@MotorScotti Excuse me, but do you have an email address? I would like to post you a picture of a futuristic dashboard that I found on the Internet that I think looks awesome and maybe perfect for your KITT project.
Cool, please post on the public page of my Facebook page: facebook.com/motorscotti Thank you!
@@MotorScotti You're very welcome.
I Love this dash idea
Thanks you're the first who does. 😅😂
@@MotorScotti I completely agree with your views on the steering wheel and AC.
I hope some day to be able to do this to my 84 bird
@@JasonMasterPlumber One step at a time will get you there.
The 21st century dash design looks pretty cool, but it needs some design improvements , the door panels will need to be redesign to go with the dash. Cool video.
Thank you!
The law is rough out in Switzerland, a criminal record for an steering wheel that is so wrong. Any way great video.
It is if the steering wheel isn't round and you can't evade properly in case of an emergency. But yes, it is rough and in many ways too rough and stops people from being applying some creativity to their cars.
it feels good to drive with the gullwing, but i see why the law wont allow for a quick connect, what if it fails and the wheel comes flying off and you crash your car. that will be bad, very long time ago when KITT gullwings was being made it was nothing about fiberglass, but today they are reinforce with metal, 100% safety
Looks good as is, you have done enough. No one looks inside and says its not a Kitt car. Smoked glass film cheaper fix as people cannot look in and criticise.
Thanks, I will indeed leave it as it, but I'm tempted to do some proper research and planning as to how I good but my own custom dashboard - even if it's just for display purpose.
what ive always asked myself is why dose no one make a round kitt steering wheel. like just scale down the steering wheel and then make it round i would buy it
That's a very good question. Probably because most people just want a screen accurate item, even if it's not practical.
@@MotorScotti yea thats true.
What you think about Trans am GTA DIGITAL dashboard? I'ts more beautiful than in typical dashboards of Trans am's. it's legal, but you need a lot of sensors and cluster, dash and other... but if you will do it, it will be very cool and good :) It's a legal 'little' version of K.I.T.T. dash
Yes, indeed. That is a good option. I would want to add a screen and the voice modulator, though.
The dash is a huge part of a replica.. otherwise is just a look alike but not real replica...you can make the AC work with replica panel...your excuse of height is not good....remember the driver was 6'4...the experience on having a kitt dash is what completes the experience
Look it's my car. I'm not making any excuses for anything. I'm just letting people know as to why I made these choices. Everyone has their own preferences and definitions of what a replica is and how it 'has' to look like. I say: to each their own. 😉
Ist bei mir und meinem vater genauso wir bauen auch erstmal nur von außen dash kommt an zweiter stelle😂
well very interesting, well KITT does have working blowing A/C and heat, the KITT 1/2 season and 3/4 season Dashes does in fact have AC vents, and the only kind of people that will use these cars as a day driver is the type of people who hate KITT, the inside of your car looks so wonderful!
Thanks a lot! I don't think I'll ever realize this designed dashboard but it's interesting to see what people come up with. The factory' dash really has grown to me. Maybe I'm just lazy? 😅 My next video will be a detailed one about how to wire up the ideegeniali dash electronics. It's for a friend..
@@MotorScotti you just being lazy, wait til you start wiring each electronic board wire to each screw in the dash cluster, it will help everyone to stop being lazy, im waiting for 3rd season dash electronics to come out by ZA electronics.
@@kitt28 I've already gone through it. Video will be up within a week. ZA is more expensive than ideegeniali but a 5 min job when it comes to wiring and offers plenty of functionalities. I can definitely recommend it. I know it through another Knight Rider friend.
@@MotorScotti oh i know all about it, sorry, i thought i was helping. Do you know about the Knight Rider dash with the AC vents?
You know Knights of Kentucky sell the dashboard with air vents installed on it.
I'm building my own now. Maybe you saw the latest video? I need to do an update video.
You have to understand that all this time later with all the other remakes but the one enduring thing is everyone wants kitt back as he was because kitt involved over the time of the original series and actually became a living being with a face and that face outside and in is kitt the person so as you would recognise me and my face as Ernesto when you see the car you see this person called kitt and that is the key that will now endure forever
That's a very good point and indeed we all think of the original dashboard of KITT when we refer to KITT, at least of one the several versions depicted in the original TV show. I just wanted to show an idea of a more modern looking dashboard, should a new movie be made. It would certainly raise some controversies if the original Trans Am was used with a different dashboard, this I must admit. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Finde die idee cool würde aber wenn es mal kommt das originale einbauen😉
If I could build a KITT replica I would have a dashboard that blended elements of the Knight Rider dashboard with the stock Trans Am dashboard.
I was trying to add the Voicebox to the factory dash but after all I thought it looked weird.
@@MotorScotti Actually I would have the Knight Rider dashboard with both Knight Rider guages and stock guages.
I've seen mixes before and I'm not a fan of that. I'd rather have a full Knight Rider dashboard or just the factory setup like now, but I will make an update on my 21st century dashboard ideas before Christmas.
Danke schon mal für denn deutschen untertitel cool wäre wenn du episode 14 mit deurschem untertitel machst😎
Mach ich!
Danke😃
kitt must have that dashboard of his own.
that new look is nothing kitt is not .
not even for this time
kitt was just ahead of his time.
that steering wheel you were talking about then you didn't have the right original good one weighs 4 kilos
and also the problem with the air conditioning, solutions had already come up for that with that old dashboard
It's really ironic that Tesla came out with the Yoke on their cars and suddenly it's apparently completely fine, but as long as a "normal car manufacturer" doesn't use it it's illegal :D. That being said, I would also never drive with the Knight Rider steering wheel.
Yes, indeed. Especially since the steering ratio remains the same whether you drive a Tesla with the circular steering wheel or the yoke.
In reality KITT's yoke has a diameter that is far too long. Most people couldn't turn the wheel completely once without it hitting their leg.
I've been researching the legal situation here in Switzerland, even with the help of a police officer and their is no legal obligation for the shape of a steering wheel. However, I still consider it dangerous to drive with the KITT wheel on public roads, even if it visually fits much better than a circular wheel.
@@MotorScotti I am even surprised you were allowed to add different lighting to the car, here in Austria even that would not be permitted :D.
My long-term goal is to build what I would consider a "soft replica" just like yours, so a car looking mostly like KITT on the outside but with a stock interior or rather an updated interior. I would also love to have an updated suspension and drivetrain, but that would most likely never be possible to get road legal here in Austria, the rules are insane. I always look at the North American car scene with a lot of envy in that regard :X.
Yes it's similar here in Switzerland with regards of suspension/ chassis mods. It's actually very much possible and straight forward. You just have to have every single modification checked and validated by a specific vehicle test centre, which is expensive. For example if I wanted to install a disc brake conversion in the rear, subframe connectors: round about 600 USD equivalent in testing fees per mod, hence about 1200 USD just two have two things tested, not including the purchase and installation costs. I would like to add these two changes to my KITT but it's just not worth thr money. Only cheaper possibility is if these parts have a seal from the OEM manufacturer, GM. That would allow my to install it without any special approval. Unfortunately all of the good stuff is made by aftermarket companies.
In terms of the lights on my KITT: What do you mean? The lights I installed comply with swiss laws (parking, indicator and daytime running lights LED). Lucky us, the US style red indicators combined with the brake lights are legal is Switzerland because we have a long history with building GM and Ford cars under license in Switzerland in the 50s and 60s.
@@MotorScotti There are many GM parts that you could fit on a 3rd Gen F-Body, the same is true for the engine. They still have to be inspected and deemed safe and legal around here, no matter where they come from, and that testing costs a lot of money here similar to you in Switzerland.
What I meant with lighting was the LED running lights, you can't just put those on the car here for fun, in particular you can't put any LED lights on a car that didn't have them from the factory. So if you put on some Halogen lights down there they might think it's original, but if you put LED lights on an 80s car the law will come down on you instantly :D.
Red indicator lights are also not legal here, I think a few cars here have them when they were imported back then. I own a 4th Gen '94 Formula that was imported from Canada and it has all the running lights active, it has the US side mirrors (I am sure you know the ugly EU foldable side mirrors), but it has the EU tail lights, which is very annoying.
Interesting to see how strict things are in Australia. I've never been there but have met a few and given that Australians come across so laid back it's hard to believe that rules would be so strict there.
Anyway, DRL have been mandatory in Switzerland for about 10 years. You either have to fit them on cars that don't have them from factory or just drive with the low beams on during the day. However, the DRL need to comply with specific regulations and position on the car. They need to seal "RL" for "running light" and either switch off or dimm to position light as soon as you switch on the position / low beam lights. If they do act as a position light as well (like on my KITT), they also need the approval code "A". Aftermarket turn signals have to have these codes and as well ("1"). When my KITT goes through state inspection once every two years, the tester gets his flash light and looks at these things closely.
Also I first wanted to use a set of fog light housing to install the indicator bulb... not allowed. It needed to be an official indicator housing... I had to become and expert in the matter to make it road legal and yet visually acceptable 😅🤣
But, you have a red light scanner, and I think than the red light scanner is illegal, no?
You're right but it's not bothering anyone as long as I don't turn it on on the road.
@@MotorScotti You could always go with KARR's version. I don't think the yellow would be an issue in most places.
Podrías traducirlos o subtitulados
I'll try😅😎👍
Los subtítulos en español ya están disponibles!
Too hot in summer, I would use the T tops, that’s what they’re for.
Well that's not really helping, I'm still not getting any cold air blown at me. 😆 With the T-Tops removed you get some air in your hair and your neck sunburned (unless you have a mullet and I'm nearly there). 😁
Im of two minds on the updated dash. While I have always love the tv dash i understand the practical reasons not to use it. But the 21st century dash just looks out of place in that car instead i would put it in one of the newer trans ams maybe the 2002.
The updated dash is just a drawing at this stage. I've been thinking of making a frame into which I could insert parts of the 1st/2nd season dash: the speedo board with the message center, the voicebox and the rpm board. Not sure about the 2002 Trans Am dash. It has a very distinct 90s design to it; it's too round for my taste, but I think it should fit with minor modifications, because the 3rd and 4th gen have very similar proportions.
@@MotorScotti i just had an idea for you updated dashboard. Include a windshield HUD for your speedometer. my grandfather's last corvette had one and it was amazing.
I like the idea!
1st like from me. Wow
Thank you I’m making to of these kitts but taking forever
Take your time. The importance is to make steady progress and to do it right, otherwise you'll end up doing it again.
Your réplica, is very nice!
But, why you wouldn’t put the Dashboard of kitt 2/3 season?
The only think is illegal is the gulwing and in reality is normal, because in all of country is illegal.
In the US, is legal, but carrefuly, if you break, you paid all of the damage! of course, any Insurance, wouldn’t paid, If you break with a gulwing kitt!
You can put, for example, the Dashboard 2/3 season but with a gulwing normal, no?
You can same, put a normal gulwing more sure with airbag than the gulwing of the origin!(in this way, you can tell #!*!!! bureau autos « ).
I know, I live in Geneva(Genf), and the law is the law!
But, the Dashboard season 3/4, only the Dashboard, without gulwing, is legal, no?
The dashboard would be legal in Switzerland with a round steering wheel. Legally that's no problem as long as all the vital information are there. That's all okay. But I just prefer to keep the factory dash for the reasons mentioned in the video.
I will do a video regarding the dashboard electronics soon, though. 😉
MICHELTFDDasSAKILlllPP
Κιττ Αυτοκίνητο