A bodywork assembly is described that facilitates joining of a fender and a bumper skin. The edges of the fender and bumper skin include complimentary shapes that mate when the fender and bumper skin are pressed together. A plurality of studs transects the fender and bumper skin along their edges. The studs may be fusible or elastic. In the event of an impact of sufficient magnitude, the studs break or stretch to accommodate deformation, thereby reducing damage to the fender and bumper skin.