Having exhausted the search for "rich Arabs" who could prop up his company, having tired of calls for "laissez-faire for ever and other assorted bullshit" and having decided that "bankruptcy would be catastrophic", the chief executive flew to Washington to beg.

"I think we are doing enough to help ourselves. You just watch us. You will see a lot of action at Chrysler. You will see better cars and you will see better service and better quality," he promised.