<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE TEREX
CORPORATION  SEPTEMBER  30, 1996 FORM 10-Q AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000097216
<NAME>                        Terex Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         9,000
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  123,900
<ALLOWANCES>                                   5,900
<INVENTORY>                                    179,500
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               322,100
<PP&E>                                         63,600
<DEPRECIATION>                                 28,300
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 481,700
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          197,800
<BONDS>                                        320,100
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          29,600
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       100
<OTHER-SE>                                     (94,200)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   481,700
<SALES>                                        521,700
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               521,700
<CGS>                                          447,600
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  447,600
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             34,600
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (7,800)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (7,800)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 14,200
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   6,400
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.03