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                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.1




                                                       August 27, 1997

American Homestar Corporation
Marina Plaza Building
2450 South Shore Boulevard, Suite 300
League City, Texas 77573

     Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-3 of American Homestar Corporation

Gentlemen:

     We are acting as counsel for American Homestar Corporation, a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of the offering and sale of up
to 474,099 shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.05 per share (the
"Shares") by certain Selling Shareholders. The Selling Shareholders acquired
the Shares pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, as amended, 
by and among Brilliant Holding Corporation, the Securityholders of Brilliant
Holding Corporation and the Company (the "Agreement"). A Registration Statement
on Form S-3 covering the offering and sale of the Shares (the "Registration
Statement") is expected to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on or about the date hereof.

     In reaching the conclusions expressed in this opinion, we have examined
and relied upon the originals or certified copies of all documents,
certificates and instruments as we have deemed necessary to the opinions
expressed herein, including the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and the
Bylaws of the Company and a copy of the Agreement. In making the foregoing
examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on original
documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and
the conformity to original documents of all copies submitted to us.

     Based solely upon the foregoing, subject to the comments hereinafter
stated, and limited in all respects to the laws of the State of Texas and the
federal laws of the United States of America, it is our opinion that the
Shares issued pursuant to the terms of the Agreement have been validly issued, 
fully paid and nonassessable.

     We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we come
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ Jackson Walker, LLP