<ARTICLE>                    5
<MULTIPLIER>              1000
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>        SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>             9-MOS

       


  Crown Central Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries
  Dollars in thousands, except per share data


           Crown Central Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries
                          Financial Data Schedule
                 (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                       Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30, 1997

                               
<CASH>                              $          (525        )
<SECURITIES>                                 43,387
<RECEIVABLES>                               100,535
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (656        )
<INVENTORY>                                 110,544
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     261,017
<PP&E>                                      628,042
<DEPRECIATION>                              335,301
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              599,966
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       183,472
<BONDS>                                     126,483
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                             0
<PREFERRED>                                       0
<COMMON>                                     50,182
<OTHER-SE>                                  157,666
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                599,966
<SALES>                                   1,198,761
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   1,198,761
<CGS>                                     1,067,053
<TOTAL-COSTS>                             1,067,053
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      91,499
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                        (377            )
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           10,652
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              31,854
<INCOME-TAX>                                 11,958
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          19,896
<DISCONTINUED>                                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   0
<CHANGES>                                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                 19,896
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  2.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  2.04