For Big 3 dealerships and their 740,000 employees nationwide it's already been in a tough year as sales have dropped to nightmarish levels. But local dealerships hope the bad dream ends when the Big 3 CEO’s can convince congress to pass a bailout plan.

Whatever happens on Capitol Hill regarding the Big 3 bailout, it is sure to have a major impact in Michiana.

At the most basic level, dealerships throughout the area could see a change in what cars are on their lots, or even see their lots disappear altogether.

Bailout or no bailout, there will be some noticeable changes across the country, and here in Michiana.

Take for example, Grape Road in Mishawaka.

The owner of Gurley Leep says the results of congress denying a bailout would be devastating.

He says bankruptcy would be a virtual death sentence for any of the big three. He says while their business is likely diversified enough to make it through, it could be devastating for dealerships, especially in small towns, that only sell domestic cars.

Meanwhile, if the bailout did go through; places like the Saturn dealership just down the road from Gurley Leep would likely be in limbo.

Saturn is one of the car makes on GM's list that would be sold or liquidated under the current bailout plan.

But economists and dealers alike say there is a need for some sort of lifeline.

“It has a ripple effect. For every job lost in the auto industry, 2 or 3 are lost in the support areas like part manufacturers, etc. So it’s a really important industry we really do need (to help),” said St Mary’s economics professor Mike Robinson.

“They made a big deal about (the big 3 CEO’s) flying their private jets there or taking the hybrid cars there. Nobody cares about that or nobody should care about that,” said Tim Trump of Campbell Ford in Niles.

“People's perception is the guys that are sitting there in front of the congress; those are the guys they think congress is bailing out. But they’re not. It’s the guy that works in my detail department that makes minimum wage, or the guys that clean the dealership. The suppliers, the guy that drives the trucks; you know all of those people are the people they need to think about,” Trump said.

Many are concerned that one auto maker going into bankruptcy could bring all three down because they are so inter-connected.

“It would be a catastrophe if one or more of the U.S. auto companies failed, you know, if they were liquidated. Hopefully if they have to go into bankruptcy they can be reorganized and cut back on expenses,” Robinson said.

Local dealers seem to agree with most economists that going into bankruptcy would be very dangerous.

Although it can actually help some companies get back on track, they think consumers would be very hesitant to buy American cars in general if one or more of the big 3 went bankrupt.

They recognize this is uncharted territory. The only comparison the economics professor we talked to today could come up with in U.S. history was Studebaker.

When they went into bankruptcy, as we well know, they did not make it out.

Meanwhile the owner of Gurley Leep said his major point of contention is that this wouldn't be a ‘bailout,’ but a loan that he feels could be paid off with interest without much trouble.

He hopes congress believes that too.