<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE TEREX
CORPORATION  MARCH 31,  1996  FORM  10-Q AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                         12,700
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  153,800
<ALLOWANCES>                                   9,900
<INVENTORY>                                    243,300
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               435,200
<PP&E>                                         149,700
<DEPRECIATION>                                 54,400
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 627,600
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          296,700
<BONDS>                                        326,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          25,800
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       100
<OTHER-SE>                                     (100,300)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   627,600
<SALES>                                        282,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               282,000
<CGS>                                          247,300
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  247,300
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             11,500
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                500
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            500
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   500
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.13)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.13)