WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  




<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          25,332                  94,435
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  124,971                  93,488
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (594)                   (887)
<INVENTORY>                                    359,558                 324,330
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               534,098                 531,779
<PP&E>                                          62,067                  44,028
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (9,868)                 (6,440)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,141,575                 971,064
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          455,559                 414,588
<BONDS>                                        303,394                 238,550
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             2                       2
<OTHER-SE>                                     352,027                 300,555
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,141,575                 971,064
<SALES>                                      2,505,134               2,092,593
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,505,134               2,092,593
<CGS>                                        2,181,290               1,835,531
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,453,973               2,090,597
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 3,627                     297
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              23,381                  14,071
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 31,407                (11,778)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (12,903)                   3,980
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             18,378                 (7,936)
<DISCONTINUED>                                     341                 (2,204)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (1,235)                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    17,484                (10,140)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.86                  (0.56)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.86                  (0.56)