Lawrence car dealers were happy and relieved Friday upon hearing about the Bush administration’s financial rescue plan for the U.S. auto industry.

“It’s a good day for the auto industry and a good day for America in general,” said Tony Sanders, general manager at Jim Clark Motors, 2121 W. 29th Terrace, which sells Chrysler vehicles.

The rescue plan, aimed primarily at General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC but also offered to Ford Motor Co., should instill customer confidence in the American automakers, said Dale Willey, owner of Dale Willey Automotive, 2840 Iowa, which sells General Motors vehicles.

“It’s a shot in the arm. I think things will get better,” said Willey, who sits on the board of directors for the National Automobile Dealers Association and is a past chairman.

Also pleased was Miles Schnaer, owner of Crown Automotive, 3400 Iowa, which sells Chevrolets, Scions and Toyotas. But Schnaer also said he thought it was a shame that it took so long. Unlike Wall Street, which quickly received a $700 billion gift, the automakers were made to grovel to come up with a plan, he said.

“The bottom line is, I think it’s positive,” Schnaer said. “It will be something to put these companies back in a competitive situation and be able to continue on in a different way of doing business.”

The rescue plan will make the auto companies do certain things differently and make concessions, Willey said. If the companies should need more help later, they will have to show that they have met conditions set out in the plan, he said.

“I think it’s the proper approach,” Willey said.

The car dealers think approval of the plan will bring customers back to showrooms. Some customers may have had concerns about buying American-made cars for fear the companies would go bankrupt or close completely because of the economic crisis, they said.

Sanders noted that Jim Clark has existed for more than 50 years and customers know it will be around.

“From the company standpoint, as far as Chrysler, this should give them more confidence in the company itself,” Sanders said.

The dealers were confident the federal loans will be repaid. They noted that a $25 billion research and development package had already been approved for the auto industry. The loans are a bridge to that, they said.

“You’re talking about millions of jobs and millions of businesses that are counting on the auto industry to continue,” Schnaer said.