<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 27.3

                                BALL CORPORATION
                             FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE


THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE RESTATED
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE NINE  MONTHS  ENDED
SEPTEMBER 29, 1996 AND THE RESTATED  UNAUDITED  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE
SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER  29, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-29-1996
<CASH>                                          10,800
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  380,600
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    287,900
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               748,600
<PP&E>                                       1,267,500
<DEPRECIATION>                                 551,700
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,902,900
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          668,500
<BONDS>                                        427,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     15,100
<COMMON>                                       244,300
<OTHER-SE>                                     357,800
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,902,900
<SALES>                                      1,684,300
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,684,300
<CGS>                                        1,539,100
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,539,100
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              24,800
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 50,900
<INCOME-TAX>                                    14,200
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             38,300
<DISCONTINUED>                                    (900)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    37,400
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.11