<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> FORD CREDIT'S CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET IS UNCLASSIFIED. THEREFORE, THE FOLLOWING PAGES LISTED BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO FORD CREDIT: CURRENT ASSETS AND CURRENT LIABILITIES. INFORMATION RELATING TO EARNINGS A SHARE IS NOT PRESENTED BECAUSE FORD CREDIT IS AN INDIRECT WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 504 <SECURITIES> 1,505 <RECEIVABLES> 84,701 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 126,623 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 104,664 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 25 <OTHER-SE> 10,671 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 126,623 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 14,083 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 12,624 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 6,778 <LOSS-PROVISION> 882 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,964 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,461 <INCOME-TAX> 575 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 850 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 850 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0