<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO REFLECT THE DECEMBER 12, 1997
THREE-FOR-TWO STOCK SPLIT
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000949298
<NAME> CENTRAL PARKING CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997             JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                             476                  20,582
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   17,383                  25,985
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                25,532                  60,860
<PP&E>                                          90,586                 127,839
<DEPRECIATION>                                   2,935                   4,373
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 221,859                 526,913
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           35,676                  80,614
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                 110,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           263                     296
<OTHER-SE>                                      90,178                 246,497
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   221,859                 526,913
<SALES>                                        157,378                 274,599
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               161,606                 280,171
<CGS>                                          120,768                 210,967
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  137,434                 239,906
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,937                   6,243
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 21,235                  32,338
<INCOME-TAX>                                     7,645                  12,420
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
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<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,590                  19,918
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.52                    0.73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.52                    0.72