<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-1-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 2,492 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 60,668 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 912,150 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,007,259 <PP&E> 27,472 <DEPRECIATION> 6,337 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,028,394 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 871,093 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 193 <OTHER-SE> 157,108 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,028,394 <SALES> 62,858 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 126,617 <CGS> 76,152 <TOTAL-COSTS> 96,069 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 19,917 <LOSS-PROVISION> 817 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 45,956 <INCOME-PRETAX> 30,548 <INCOME-TAX> 10,925 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 30,548 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,623 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.05 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.05