<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          20,524                  94,435
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  117,035                  93,488
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,506)                   (887)
<INVENTORY>                                    453,264                 324,330
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               610,822                 531,779
<PP&E>                                          50,698                  44,028
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (7,257)                 (6,440)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,172,666                 975,662
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          538,430                 414,588
<BONDS>                                        273,797                 238,550
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             2                       2
<OTHER-SE>                                     333,262                 300,555
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,172,666                 975,662
<SALES>                                        710,201               2,087,148
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               712,382               2,089,763
<CGS>                                          620,977               1,830,086
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  699,518               2,085,152
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   353                     297
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,189                  15,085
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,955                (15,513)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,622)                   5,511
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,299                (10,140)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (1,235)                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,064                (10,140)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.05                  (0.56)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.05                  (0.54)