<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000107454 <NAME> WILSHIRE OIL COMPANY OF TEXAS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 1,398,000 <SECURITIES> 30,086,000 <RECEIVABLES> 4,975,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 36,830,000 <PP&E> 171,075,000 <DEPRECIATION> 103,440,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 110,465,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 10,888,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 10,014,000 <OTHER-SE> 20,805,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 110,465,000 <SALES> 1,349,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,540,000 <CGS> 611,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,979,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 997,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,541,000 <INCOME-TAX> 889,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,652,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,652,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .18 <EPS-DILUTED> .18