A bracket allows controlled positioning of a bumper cover relative to a
lamp housing (such as a headlamp housing) when the headlamp housing and
bumper cover are mounted on a vehicle. The bracket has an elongated body
having a first end and a second end, and attaches to the headlamp housing
by temporary attachments, such as snap connections. The bracket further
has bumper cover receiving slot configured to receive a portion of the
bumper cover. The bracket may further include a pin receiving hole,
positioned so as to receive a pin protruding from the headlamp housing
for additional positioning accuracy. A temporary sub-assembly of the
bracket and headlamp housing can be used in an improved vehicle assembly
process, in which the sub-assembly is permanently mounted to the vehicle
fender, and a portion of the bumper cover slid into bumper receiving
slots on the bracket.