<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