Marc Ulm has been a fan of the Knight Rider television series since the 1980s. The experienced hobbyist has built his own KITT, the wonder car also corrects spicy statements. The KITT from Ternitz (Lower Austria) “swallows” an average of twelve liters of fuel per hundred kilometers. 140 hp slumber under the hood of the converted Pontiac.
If Marc Ulm drives to the nearby supermarket for a liter of milk, it can take two hours. His car is responsible for this — not because he’s having trouble starting, but because it’s so unusual and he’s repeatedly asked about it. The 40-year-old fulfilled a childhood dream and faithfully built the legendary KITT down to the smallest detail. It took him three years to do it, and he stopped counting after 1,000 hours of work.
Knight Rider fan on the way
When Marc Ulm was four years old, he first saw the TV series “Knight Rider” with his father in the 1980s. Soon the wish matured in him: “I also want to drive such a car.” It took a while to come true, but today the KITT from Ternitz, in the Neunkirchen district, is a fact. The trained carpenter and current sales representative met other KITT drivers through a Facebook group. About 75 Knight Rider fans from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands are now united in a WhatsApp group.
Everything in the original
“It was important to me that all parts are the same as the original. I’ve searched all over the world for it,” Ulm reveals. He found the car himself, a 1992 Pontiac, in the Netherlands. Back then it was blue, now it shines completely in black, with the typical red light strip on the front. KITT “scans” his environment with it, and during the “Krone” interview, he boldly said, “Today is not my day.” Yes, the car talks. Ulm listened to the television series for hours, cut out the best sayings and copied them. The dashboard is also the same as it was then. Ulm: “My KITT has been checked and approved.” When driving on the road, the Ternitz driver only has to exchange the steering wheel for a round one.
KITT pulls out the best jokes
In order to fulfill his dream, Marc Ulm sold his three motorcycles and his Vespa. The KITT has so far devoured 37,000 euros. The vehicle of “Knight Rider” should please not only its owner, but also other fans – for example, at charity events. The next opportunity to take a seat in the KITT for a photo in exchange for a donation will be on August 20 from 2 pm to 6 pm on the Rock’n’Roll Day in Lanzenkirchen, district Wiener Neustadt. The net proceeds will benefit little Alina, who suffers from Louis Bar syndrome, which affects movement coordination. In any case, KITT is looking forward to many visitors.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
