History Series / Knightrider

* HoistByHerOwnPetard: [[spoiler: Tanya attempts to shoot Michael through KITT's windows, in spite of everyone warning her the windows are bulletproof. The bullet richochets directly back at her and she dies from the self-inflicted gunshot.]]

* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Michael does this ''twice'' during the climax of "Chariots of Gold" [[spoiler: on KITT and then on a brainwashed Bonnie, who's reprogrammed KITT to help the week's villain to help carry out a gold robbery - KITT's ThouShaltNotKill directive overrides an attempt to run over <ochael, which Michael tells KITT is the only way he'll get out of the car's way.]]

* BackdoorPilot: The two-parter Season 2 episode "Mouth of the Snake" introduced one David Dalton (a Series/TheSixMillionDollarMan of sorts) who was going to be the star of his own series, and later on even got his onw solo PilotMovie (titled ''Code of Vengeance'') but the idea never panned out.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Early in the first season, Turbo Boost was only a short-duration speed boost, not the jump it soon developed into. KITT's "speech" panel was also different - a solid block of color, rather than the bars. (Also, Michael was more clearly the protagonist and KITT less emotional)

** KITT's solid-block speech indicator varies between having the text "KNIGHT 2000" printed on it, and the blank panel.

* OnceAnEpisode: KITT's turbo boost function being used, at least in the original series. It's less a speed boost then a RampJump. [[CoolCar Without necessarily having a ramp.]] Once he got it, Super Pursuit Mode took the Once An Episode spot from Turbo Boost.

* [[{{Novelization}} Novelizations]]: Five - ''Knight Rider'', based on thePilotMovie, ''Trust Doesn't Rust'', based on the first episode with KARR, ''Hearts Of Stone'', ''The 24-Carat Assassin'' based on the ExtraLongEpisode with Dalton, "Mouth Of The Snake", and the final one was ''Mirror Image'' based on "Goliath" (i.e. the first appearance of Garthe Knight).

* HoistByHerOwnPetard: [[spoiler: Tanya attempts to shoot Micheal through KITT's windows, in spite of everyone warning her the windows are bulletproof. The bullet richochets directly back at her and she dies from the self-inflicted gunshot.]]

* BilingualBonus: Perhaps not even intentional, but KARR-E or "Karre" is a very derogative term for a run-down car in German.

* WhamEpisode: Season three (original) had the episode "Junkyard Dog" which not only destroyed KITT, but literally disintegrated him to a bare shell and CPU box with a very small chance of recovery. We'd seen him bashed, smashed and even blown up before, but never eaten from the inside. Seeing the state the car was in after being pulled from the acid suggested that there was absolutely ''[[NoOneCouldSurviveThat no way in hell]]'' KITT could possibly have survived. [[UnexplainedRecovery He had]], of course, but still.

* MotileVehicularComponents: In the original series, KITT could go into Super Pursuit Mode when extra speed was needed. The trunk lid would rise up revealing extra exhaust vents, the door panels would extend to provide extra air intakes, the front bumper would extend out revealing an extra spoiler to keep the car on the ground, etc.

* StupidCrooks: An episode dealing with car theft has a "false alarm" as two crooks attempt to steal the pimped-out K.I.T.T, and quickly prove not to be the professionals Michael is looking for: They're trying to break in using a Philips-head screwdriver instead of a flat one, and [[http://www.atylia.com/images/catalogue/porte-manteau-design-nova-noir-450.jpg this kind]] of coat hanger.

** The old KITT had lasers and occasionally other systems that he tended to use for defense or minor attacks on key points. The new KITT, to emphasize just how more badass he is, is armed with a laser, rocket launchers and [[MoreDakka three miniguns]], [[PlotInducedStupidity which typically aren't used when they would actually be useful]].

** One episode of the original series takes place at a film studio; in reality, the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot. Michael and KITT drive past the Clock Tower and Courthouse Square from Film/BackToTheFuture, and KITT remotely controls the mechanical shark Bruce from Jaws (complete with theme music).