Hi all,
I've got an 88 780 Bertone (w/V6), and I've cracked one of the tail light lenses. I wanted to take the light assembly out and retrieve the plastic piece from inside the light. I've taken off all the speed nuts from inside the trunk, but the lens seems to be held in there as securely as if the nuts were still in place.

Due to the rarity of this part, I don't want to get too brutal with this part and break it further than it already is. What else holds the tail light assembly in place, beyond the nuts on the posts that protrude through the body and into the trunk? Is there some sort of putty type substance that I need to work loose?

Or am I further ahead by leaving well enough alone and just cover the break with some appropriately shaped plastic and only revisit this when I need to change a lamp in the assembly?

Thanks in advance from a new 780 owner who's just learning the ropes.

Found a very low tech way to gently remove that taillight lens.
Back off all your speed nuts inside the trunk about 1/4 inch, so the tail light could move, but not fall out.

Now drive the car for a week or so. If your roads as bad as they are in Michigan (and I hope that they aren't), the tail light will work itself loose from that seal, with all the vibrations normal driving provide.

Hi Bwright, I am looking at a 780 and would like to know what you think of yours?
I live around Traverse City and would like to have a look at yours someday
gandt_49620@yahoo.com is my email

If it the same as Swedish 900 and it sounds like it, there is a foam closed cell neoprene type gasket, fairly thick, 3/16", maybe that compresses the plastic lens to the body as the nuts are tightened. I found that the gasket adheres, with age, not adhesive, over years. The oldest lens I had to replace was in a 1993 and I the gasket very reusable, just a little stiffer. Hopefully, no one, including the Italians used a caulk or adhesive there. Corner light? Lightly push in the studs starting at one end or the other and try to budge it a little at a time. Probably, the warmer the weather, the easier.

Tom

No adhesive, just the gasket is stiff and adheres to the body--just push on the light's studs, it will come off...

I said it. Fuzzy Damned Kittys!!!!!

Just when you think you know something about your car, along comes a new piece of information.

Never knew that the Italians used "fuzzy kitties" when they assembled the Bertones. Good information to know.

Now I know why the taillights don't want to easily come free.

However, I have a different problem to solve first. Trunk button in the glovebox isn't working correctly now, and the previous owner screwed up the cable release in the driver's door frame.

Guess I'll have to use a long stick and go in via the ski passthrough.