rarebmx

iTrader: (6)

I picked this car up recently & it is an actual 86 T/A WS6, 305 TPI Automatic. The car itself is nice but previous owner loved KITT & changed all the outside to be a replica. The inside: only change was the PMD seats (swapping in black GTA interior tomorrow).

My question is: what is up with this front end? I cannot find this shape or mold anywhere on the net. It is a production front end made out if a mold but for some reason they left a notch for the hedlights to raise but no indent for black plexiglass piece. Is this a JUNK front end that someone made early on? Anyone know who made it or an suggestions on how to fix?
I will be selling the car soon but want it to present better. It dies run & drive & was just to cheap to.pass up.

Please no comments on how someone ruined a good car because it wasn't me. I liked it because it is different but still has great bones & obviously some work went into this car. For the cost no one would have passed this one up.

Chris Blasius

WOW... I'm building a Knight Rider car right now and know a lot about them. This is the worst bumper i have ever seen. I have no idea who the vender would have even been Get yourself a new bumper and be done with it. What will you be doing with the PMD seats?

rarebmx

iTrader: (6)

It looks pretty bad up close with the flash but really not horrible. I'm going to reinstall the bumper & get alignment a little better.

Not sure what my plans are with the PMD seats yet but I know people are always on the hunt. I'll post them on TGO when for sale. They are faded black but no rips...

Chris Blasius

It actually looks pretty sweet in these pics

Chris Blasius

Try fixing the sag like this

rarebmx

iTrader: (6)

That is GREAT advice. The PO was not mechanical so when I get ready to start driving the car it should show much nicer.

Thank you for the advice

dcd2236

iTrader: (4)

That nose came from a vendor from Tenn. that used to be in business. I recognize the cutouts for the headlight bezels because thats the only bumper Ive seen with that on it.

rarebmx

iTrader: (6)

Thank you. I can understand why he's not in business anymore lol

82kitt

vender was custom electronics-always ran ad in high performance pontiac magazine in late 80's.I am probably the only other guy who still has this front-since 1989 on my 82 ta.

rarebmx

iTrader: (6)

THANK YOU.... I could not find another like it in any pictures anywhere. This is great information. I like "vintage" stuff even if it's not the most "perfect" thing. At least it's era correct.
You're the best & thank you.

82kitt

you are very welcome! when I purchased my front I also received a variable speed scanner and a six pack of aux. driving lights,two of which were amber color to be replacement directional signals.the only other interesting thing is that they also included what I believe are aluminum brackets and all the mounting hardware i.e. screws washers and locknuts to install the brackets in the nose itself.also received pre cut plexiglass black outs that mounted on the nose where the cut outs are-sorry I don't have a way to send any pics of these but like you I have since removed them as they cut the driving light output too much and were not in any way correct to knight rider.all the best to you!!!

rarebmx

iTrader: (6)

Now I'm even more curious. Of you have a cell phone we could text pictures?
I'm very glad you have some solid knowledge on these bumpers. I'm wanting to get it attached 100% correct. Seems like it cannot be " perfect" ever.
I can PM you my #.
I'm more curious about this "pre cut plexiglass black outs that mounted on the nose where the cut outs are-sorry I don't have a way to send any pics of these but like you I have since removed them as they cut the driving light output too much and were not in any way correct to knight rider.all the best to you!!!"

82kitt

Sorry I don't have a cell phone-might as well be back in '82 lol! the black outs were pre cut and pre drilled dark tinted plexiglass.when the front was sent out the openings for the driving lights and replacement directional were not cut out.the way the blackout panels were used was to mark the 8 locations along the outer edge-4 on the top and 4 on the bottom and pre drill the locations to attach the blackouts to the front.then you would carefully cut out the openings leaving a slight edge all around about 1/8 of an inch.after all was said and done you would attach the blackouts -also taking care that the driving lights were recessed enough to keep the blackouts from melting! as I said in my last post these blackouts were in no way accurate to knight rider-the newer more accurate to screen used fronts offered by Billy Gunter at knight designs have the screen accurate to season 1 turn signal blackouts that mount on top outside area of the scanner shelf.and he also offers screen accurate metal grills that replicate the season1 kitt.knight passions Don colie's company also offer more screen accurate fronts as well as rob Louisville's company.the fronts that you and I have are what they are but look 100% with the driving lights visible-like kitt from about mid season2 onward.as for lining the front up that is really trial and error moving it up or down slightly at the fender mounting points.I wish you all the good luck with your Ta -looks real good now-can only get better!!

82kitt

P.s meant in my last post to say our fronts look 100% better with driving lights visible -like kitt from about mid to late season 2 up.Don colie at advanced auto I think also offers the metal grills for the season 1look.

Brian Laycox

I know this is an older post, but just by looking at it, I wonder if you could have popped the kitt bumper off and filed down the ends where it meets the fenders to draw the bumper up closer to the headlights and shrink the gaps. Someone who is good with that kind of stuff could take what ya have and really make it look sharp. It may take a little nip and a little tuck, but yeah. The car is probably long gone by now, but if it isn't, id love to see what all you've done with it.

Brian Laycox

Lucky me. I bought this one used in Illinois and I'm getting whipped by people because its a "shark nose" and I found that it was cut out around the headlights too. Sorry for resurrecting an old post. I just thought it was interesting that I had something similar.

It looks like I either have one of these bumpers or someone cut it out before I bought it. Im currently replacing the missing fiberglass that is missing.

Brian Laycox

Lucky me. I bought this one used in Illinois and I'm getting whipped by people because its a "shark nose" and I found that it was cut out around the headlights too. Sorry for resurrecting an old post. I just thought it was interesting that I had something similar.

It looks like I either have one of these bumpers or someone cut it out before I bought it. Im currently replacing the missing fiberglass that is missing.

T.L.

It's too long and doesn't look right. You'd be better off getting one that's molded from original. There's alot of them out there...

OrangeBird

iTrader: (1)

I agree 100% with TL.

Even though I'm personally not interested, I'm not in the least bashing KITT, if that's what someone wants. But if I WERE to ever want one, I'd surely want one that looks right.....

Brian Laycox

This is the same nose I have. It looks pretty good to me. Every season of the tv show has a different front end. Season 1 and 2 the nose was much shorter. 3 and 4 did away with the plexiglass inserts and indentations in front of the headlights.


Im working on removing the gaps and sharpening the lines. I almost got it for free so I dont mind fussing with it a bit. There are a lot of people making new bumpers right now. If this thing looks really ridiculous when im done with it, I'll go shopping. I just wanted to show someone that i got one with gaps too! lol. I didnt take any offense from your comments. I know its a little different. It was hand sculpted in the good old days 😂

82kitt

The front is a Mark's Custom kit front.the top of the front is too pointed and center is too long.and the bottom of the front the spoiler is misshapen. It should come up from the outside to the center.much more accurate fronts are available at reasonable prices.In the kr series the front in season one had "shelves" in front of the stock turn signals and the headlight doors.these were poorly covered with tinted plexiglass covers which flapped any time the car did any high speeds.season 2 and 3 were same front with "shelves removed and molded indentations where the plexi was.Season 4 had an all new nose which had no indentations and was made up of straight lines where the previous fronts had curved lines.Michael Sheffe sculpted the first 3 fronts and George Barris the season 4 version.Michael Sheffe also did the original season 1 and 2 dash and interior and the redone 1 monitor season 3 and 4 dash.

T.L.

That is completely wrong. The length of the nose was the same in all 4 sesons. The cutouts/indentations for the park lamps were gone in season 4. The shape and size never changed. The nose made by MCK ia WAY too long and not accurate to any season or episode of the show. Additionally, the lights in the grill openings were NEVER staggared, yet I see all these replics that look like they have a "toothy grin"...