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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                       ----------------------------------



                                    FORM 10-Q

[X]      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 1998    Commission File Number 1-5690
                               --------------                           ------


                              GENUINE PARTS COMPANY
                              ---------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                   GEORGIA                                     58-0254510
                   -------                                     ----------
      (State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
       incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)



2999 CIRCLE 75 PARKWAY, ATLANTA, GEORGIA                         30339
- ----------------------------------------                         -----
 (Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code           (770) 953-1700
                                                             --------------


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X      No
                                      ---        ---

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date (the close of the period covered
by this report).




                                   178,980,690
                                   -----------
                            (Shares of Common Stock)





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                                                                       FORM 10-Q

PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1 - Financial Statements

                     GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


                                         ASSETS                                                         Mar. 31,          Dec. 31,
                                                                                                          1998              1997
                                                                                                          ----              ----
                                                                                                        (Unaudited)
                                                                                                              (in thousands)
CURRENT ASSETS
                                                                                                                    
Cash and cash equivalents..........................................................................$       98,810      $      72,823

Trade accounts receivable, less allowance
for doubtful accounts (1998 - $4,404; 1997 - $1,849)...............................................       746,522            686,551

Inventories - at lower of cost (substantially last-in,
first-out method) or market........................................................................     1,315,065          1,321,597

Prepaid and other current accounts.................................................................        30,043             12,580
                                                                                                        ---------          ---------

         TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS......................................................................     2,190,440          2,093,551

Investments and other assets.......................................................................       288,728            288,298

Total property, plant and equipment, less allowance
for depreciation (1998 - $269,092; 1997 - $258,634 )...............................................       372,846            372,514
                                                                                                        ---------          ---------

                                                                                                   $    2,852,014      $   2,754,363
                                                                                                        =========          =========

                      LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Accounts payable...................................................................................$      412,162      $     405,141

Revolving line of credit...........................................................................        41,000             36,000

Income taxes.......................................................................................        59,351             14,372

Dividends payable..................................................................................        44,720             43,436

Other current liabilities..........................................................................        54,920             57,989
                                                                                                        ---------          ---------

         TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES.................................................................       612,153            556,938

Long-term debt.....................................................................................       209,440            209,490

Deferred income taxes..............................................................................        89,049             89,049

Minority interests in subsidiaries.................................................................        48,466             39,418

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Stated capital:
    Preferred Stock, par value - $1 per share
       Authorized - 10,000,000 shares - None Issued................................................           -0-                -0-
    Common Stock, par value - $1 per share
       Authorized - 450,000,000 shares
       Issued - 1998 - 178,980,690; 1997 - 178,947,976.............................................       178,981            178,948


Retained earnings..................................................................................     1,713,925          1,680,520
                                                                                                        ---------          ---------

         TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY................................................................     1,892,906          1,859,468
                                                                                                        ---------          ---------

                                                                                                   $    2,852,014      $   2,754,363
                                                                                                        =========          =========


See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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                                                                       FORM 10-Q
                     GENUINE PARTS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                   (Unaudited)




                                                                                              Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                                                              ----------------------------

                                                                                                 1998              1997
                                                                                              ----------        ----------

                                                                                           (000 omitted except per share data)

                                                                                                          
Net sales.............................................................................        $1,533,138        $1,457,646
Cost of goods sold....................................................................         1,086,402         1,028,379
                                                                                               ---------         ---------
                                                                                                 446,736           429,267
Selling, administrative & other expenses..............................................           314,508           302,705
                                                                                               ---------         ---------

Income before income taxes............................................................           132,228           126,562
Income taxes..........................................................................            52,230            49,967
                                                                                               ---------         ---------

NET INCOME............................................................................        $   79,998        $   76,595
                                                                                               =========         =========
Basic net income per common share.....................................................        $      .45        $      .43
                                                                                               =========         =========

Diluted net income per common share...................................................        $      .45        $      .42
                                                                                               =========         =========

Dividends declared per common share...................................................        $      .25        $      .24
                                                                                               =========         =========


Average common shares outstanding.....................................................           178,822           179,942

Dilutive effect of stock options and non-vested restricted stock awards...............               733               715
                                                                                               ---------         ---------

Average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution.................................           179,555           180,657
                                                                                               =========         =========





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                                                                       FORM 10-Q

                     GENUINE PARTS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                   (Unaudited)




                                                                                                              Three Months
                                                                                                              Ended Mar. 31,
                                                                                                         -----------------------
                                                                             
                                                                                                             (000 omitted)
Cash Provided By:
                                                                                                           1998           1997
                                                                                                         -------         -------
                                                                                                                  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                                                                                               
   Net income........................................................................................   $ 79,998        $ 76,595
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                                
     Depreciation....................................................................................     15,993          14,996
     Other...........................................................................................        974           1,707
     Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                             
       Trade accounts receivable.....................................................................    (59,971)        (57,840)
       Merchandise inventories.......................................................................      6,532          (2,866)
       Trade accounts payable........................................................................      7,021         (22,453)
       Income taxes payable..........................................................................     44,979          37,436
       Other operating assets and liabilities........................................................    (20,532)        (15,458)
                                                                                                         -------         -------
                                                                            
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES............................................................     74,994          32,117
                                                                            
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                                                       
   Purchase of property, plant and equipment.........................................................    (20,035)        (23,029)
   Other investing activities........................................................................     11,354           5,161
                                                                                                         -------         -------
                                                                            
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES................................................................     (8,681)        (17,868)
                                                                            
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                                                        
   Proceeds from revolving line of credit, net.......................................................      5,000          38,000
   Dividends paid....................................................................................    (43,436)        (40,258)
   Purchase of stock.................................................................................      8,789)         (7,761)
   Other financing activities........................................................................      6,899           4,400
                                                                                                         -------         -------
                                                                            
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES................................................................    (40,326)         (5,619)
                                                                                                         -------         -------
                                                                            
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS............................................................     25,987           8,630
                                                                            
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD.....................................................     72,823          67,373
                                                                                                         -------         -------
                                                                             
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD...........................................................   $ 98,810        $ 76,003
                                                                                                         =======         =======



See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


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                                                                       FORM 10-Q

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note A - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and therefore do not
include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair presentation of
financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles. However, in the opinion of management,
all adjustments necessary to a fair statement of the operations of the interim
period have been made. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The
results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 1998 are not
necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. Comprehensive income is
not materially different from net income.

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations

Genuine Parts Company (the "Company") reported record sales and earnings in the
first quarter of 1998. Sales for the quarter were $1.5 billion, up 5% over the
same period in 1997. Net income in the quarter advanced 4% to $80 million. On a
per-share diluted basis, net income in the quarter was 45 cents versus 42 cents
in the same quarter of the prior year, an increase of 7%.

Sales for the Automotive Parts Group advanced 2% for the quarter, reflecting the
effects of extremely slow growth in the automotive aftermarket. Sales for the
Industrial Parts Group increased 12% for the quarter, as industry across the
country is continuing to operate at high levels of capacity. The Office Products
Group was up 4% for the quarter reflecting excellent service and sound programs.
Cost of goods sold increased slightly as a percentage of net sales compared to
the same quarter the prior year. Selling, administrative and other expenses
increased 4% for the quarter and the percentage of selling, administrative and
other expenses to net sales decreased slightly, reflecting improved expense
control.

The ratio of current assets to current liabilities remains very good at 3.6 to 1
and the Company's cash position is good.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

     (a) The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:

           Exhibit 3.1     Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company
                           (incorporated herein by reference from the Company's
                           Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated March 3, 1995).

           Exhibit 3.2     Bylaws of the Company, as amended (incorporated
                           herein by reference from the Company's Annual Report
                           on Form 10-K, dated March 5, 1993).

           Exhibit 27      Financial Data Schedule (for SEC use only).

     (b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the registrant during the quarter
ended March 31, 1998.


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                                                                       FORM 10-Q

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                        Genuine Parts Company
                                        (Registrant)


Date  April 30, 1998                    /s/ Jerry Nix
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                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Jerry W. Nix
                                        Senior Vice President - Finance


                                        /s/ George W. Kalafut
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        George W. Kalafut
                                        Executive Vice President - Finance and
                                        Administration (Principal Financial and
                                        Accounting Officer)



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