<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
The  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information   extracted  from  the
consolidated financial statements of Oshkosh Truck Corporation as of and for the
period ended September 30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         3,622
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  83,050
<ALLOWANCES>                                   2,068
<INVENTORY>                                    149,191
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               249,844
<PP&E>                                         156,783
<DEPRECIATION>                                 75,947
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 685,039
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          208,707
<BONDS>                                        277,337
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          93
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     131,203
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   685,039
<SALES>                                        902,792
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               902,792
<CGS>                                          766,348
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  766,348
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               124
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             21,490
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                28,648
<INCOME-TAX>                                   12,655
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            16,253
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                1,185
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   15,068
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.79
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.77