Charlies, I have done one of these spotlight cars and yes you will need to remove the truck, The wire is soldered to the copper strip on above the truck, my recommendation would be to replace the wire with some new super flex wire. If you carefully drill out or grind the flare of the rivet where it comes through the truck you will be able to drill and tap for a small screw into the rivet and the car from the top will still look original.
Ray
