<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT MARCH 31, 1996 (UNAUDITED) AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 (UNAUDITED), AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 8,960 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 68,077<F1> <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 210,241 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0<F2> <PP&E> 13,894<F1> <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 315,795 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0<F2> <BONDS> 210,103 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 978 <OTHER-SE> 56,790 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 315,795 <SALES> 23,213 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 31,774 <CGS> 17,797 <TOTAL-COSTS> 21,048 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 7,843 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,288 <INCOME-PRETAX> (405) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (405) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 3,770 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,365 <EPS-PRIMARY> .35 <EPS-DILUTED> .35 <FN> <F1> THE VALUES FOR RECEIVABLES AND PP&E REPRESENT NET AMOUNTS. <F2> THE COMPANY DOES NOT PREPARE A CLASSIFIED BALANCE SHEET THEREFORE CURRENT ASSETS AND CURRENT LIABILITIES ARE NOT APPLICABLE. </FN>