<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE HASTINGS MANUFACTURING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTMEBER 30, 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-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 842,542 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 5,168,352 <ALLOWANCES> 435,000 <INVENTORY> 9,989,930 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 18,404,576 <PP&E> 22,109,208 <DEPRECIATION> 13,961,282 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 35,357,869 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 7,872,984 <BONDS> 3,954,250 <COMMON> 780,946 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 4,204,241 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 35,357,869 <SALES> 31,262,856 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 31,262,856 <CGS> 22,872,877 <TOTAL-COSTS> 22,872,877 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 128,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 304,473 <INCOME-PRETAX> (250,261) <INCOME-TAX> (85,000) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (165,261) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (165,261) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.42) <EPS-DILUTED> (.42)