The pilot aired in September 1987 and was followed by a short-lived series of nine episodes, with significant changes to the cast and format, that ran from March until May 1988.
Opening narration by William Conrad (all episodes after the pilot): There is a world, just beyond now, where reality runs a razor-thin seam between fact and possibility; where the laws of the present collide with the crimes of tomorrow.
Patrolling these vast outlands is a new breed of lawman, guarding the fringes of society’s frontiers, they are known simply as ‘Highwaymen’... and this is their story...[citation needed] The movie and subsequent series follow the adventures of "The Highwayman", one of a mysterious group conducting crime-fighting missions and solving bizarre mysteries.
[citation needed] The pilot movie used a different opening narration voiced by William Conrad: They say he came into this world from someplace off the clock.
With much of the series featuring the Highwayman (and/or Jetto) driving their trucks along vast stretches of desert road, there are heavy modern-Western[clarification needed] overtones to many episodes.
With the hybrid vehicles and weaponry, the ordinary police being unable to deal with many fragments of society, and the overall tone of the series, many of the episodes have a vaguely post-apocalyptic feel to them.
Despite its short run, the series was broadcast in various other countries, including Germany, France, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Brazil (SBT), the Netherlands, Pakistan (NTM), Peru, Kuwait, Sri Lanka and, the United Kingdom.
The mysterious Highwayman becomes involved when a biker gang called ‘The Bullets’ rob a small-town bank, with their leader, Bo Ziker, ending up in jail.
But it emerges that The Bullets were set up to take the fall for a huge fraud instigated by a local bigwig and the town sheriff...
When Steve, a fellow Highwayman, is murdered, his friend Highway investigates, and uncovers some sinister goings on at a local, secretive production complex.
Highway and Jetto travel back in time to 1945, to rescue Ms. Winthrop, who has not returned after pursuing a twisted genius who is intent on ending the atomic age before it has even begun... Tim Russ (D.C. Montana) does not appear in this episode.
When a dead body drained of blood and missing organs is uncovered, Highway and Jetto are sent in to investigate, and are soon on the trail of a blood-thirsty doctor trading in spare body parts for the rich and the powerful... After an accident, Jetto's mind reverts to five years previously, when he was double-crossed by comrades in battle, who turned out to be dealing in illegal drugs and weapons, and tried to murder him.
In a dazed and confused state, he hunts down the two men, who are now in high positions, as Highway and Montana try to stop him before the Army takes him out, but uncovers a vein of corruption... Mafia crime-lord Manetti's men use a high-tech machine that can read agents' minds, to try to find the one man that is set to testify against him.
That carried by the Highwayman appears to be similar to a stockless 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun with a sawed-off barrel,Benelli M1 Super 90 as used by SWAT teams and some military agencies.
In the episode 'Til Death Duel Us Part', it is revealed that this weapon has selectable 'modes' and is capable of firing both 9mm Parabellum and 20mm high-explosive ammunition.