Exhibit (a)(1)(ix) -
                                                          Notice to Shareholders

December 14, 2001

To the Holders of Common Stock of Ugly Duckling Corporation:

         Enclosed for your review is an Amended and Restated Offer to Purchase,
dated December 14, 2001 (the "Amended and Restated Offer to Purchase"), your
shares of common stock, $.001 par value per share ("Common Stock"), of Ugly
Duckling Corporation ("Ugly Duckling"), and an Amended and Restated Letter of
Transmittal. The Amended and Restated Offer to Purchase reflects various changes
to the Offer to Purchase, dated November 26, 2001, previously sent to you by
Ernest. C. Garcia II, Chairman of the Board of Directors and majority
stockholder of Ugly Duckling. UDC Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and
a wholly owned subsidiary of UDC Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation and
majority owned by Mr. Garcia, replaces Mr. Garcia as the offeror. UDC
Acquisition Corp. has entered into a merger agreement with Ugly Duckling whereby
following the consummation of the offer, UDC Acquisition Corp. (or another
direct or indirect affiliate of Mr. Garcia) will merge with and into Ugly
Duckling as promptly as is practicable. PLEASE READ ALL OF THE ENCLOSED MATERIAL
CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO TENDER YOUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.

- -        UDC Acquisition Corp. is offering to purchase your shares of Common
         Stock for $3.53 net per share, an increase of $1.02 per share over the
         previous offer.

- -        Payment will be made promptly after the expiration of the tender offer,
         which is currently contemplated to be January 22, 2002.

- -        UDC Acquisition Corp. is offering to purchase all of the outstanding
         shares of Common Stock from all stockholders excluding shares owned by
         Mr. Garcia, Gregory B. Sullivan, UDC Acquisition Corp. or UDC Holdings
         Corp.

- -        If you have not submitted your paperwork and wish to do so, you have
         until 5:00 p.m., Mountain Standard Time on January 16, 2002, unless the
         tender offer is extended.

SHARES PREVIOUSLY VALIDLY TENDERED AND NOT WITHDRAWN CONSTITUTE VALID TENDERS
FOR PURPOSES OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED OFFER TO PURCHASE. STOCKHOLDERS ARE NOT
REQUIRED TO TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SHARES IN ORDER TO
RECEIVE THE INCREASED PURCHASE PRICE OF $3.53 PER SHARE. TENDERING STOCKHOLDERS
MAY CONTINUE TO USE THE ORIGINAL TRANSMITTAL LETTER PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED WITH
THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, OR THEY MAY USE THE ENCLOSED AMENDED AND RESTATED LETTER
OF TRANSMITTAL.

Questions and requests for assistance or for additional copies of the Amended
and Restated Offer to Purchase or the Amended and Restated Letter of Transmittal
should be directed to:

                               MORROW & CO., INC.

                           445 Park Avenue, 5th Floor
                            New York, New York 10022
                           Call Collect (212) 754-8000
                 Banks and Brokerage Firms Call: (800) 654-2468
                    Stockholders Please Call: (800) 607-0088
                         E-mail: UGLY.INFO@morrowco.com

         This notice should be read in conjunction with the Amended and Restated
Offer to Purchase and the Amended and Restated Letter of Transmittal. Carefully
consider the tender offer described therein before making your decision.