<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>

UNITED AUTO GROUP                                                  Exhibit 27.1
Financial Data Schedule

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999             DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          44,127                  38,538
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  139,244                 126,320
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,134)                   (860)
<INVENTORY>                                    420,759                 410,295
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               618,066                 590,713
<PP&E>                                          73,418                  65,897
<DEPRECIATION>                                (15,078)                (14,414)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,218,109               1,184,194
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          525,107                 505,529
<BONDS>                                        214,340                 288,265
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                     77,000                       0
<COMMON>                                             2                       2
<OTHER-SE>                                     349,293                 341,648
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,218,109               1,184,194
<SALES>                                      3,033,696               3,343,147
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,033,696               3,343,147
<CGS>                                        2,641,345               2,916,248
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,973,704               3,291,291
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 2,270                   4,800
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              23,510                  31,462
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 38,752                  25,194
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (16,923)                (11,554)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             21,287                  13,378
<DISCONTINUED>                                      28                (12,940)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    320                 (1,235)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    21,635                   (797)
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.99                  (0.04)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.86                  (0.04)