<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001016177 <NAME> DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <CASH> 11625 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 453998 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 133842 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 767138 <PP&E> 500344 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2365085 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 587082 <BONDS> 387840 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 175 <OTHER-SE> 433507 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2365085 <SALES> 1977540 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1977540 <CGS> 1660367 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1660367 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 165856 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 82553 <INCOME-PRETAX> 68764 <INCOME-TAX> 27781 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 38235 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 38235 <EPS-BASIC> 2.19 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.13