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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
 
The Board of Directors
Ugly Duckling Corporation:
 
     We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statements of
Ugly Duckling Corporation on Form S-3 (File No. 333-31531) filed as of July 18,
1997, as amended by pre-effective amendment No. 1 to Form S-3 filed as of July
30, 1997; Form S-3 (File No. 333-22237) filed as post-effective amendment No. 2
to Form S-1 as of July 18, 1997, Form S-8 (File No. 333-32313) for Ugly Duckling
Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan filed as of July 29, 1997; Form S-8 (File
No. 333-08457) for Ugly Duckling Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan filed as
of July 19, 1996; Form S-8 (File No. 333-06615) for Ugly Duckling Corporation
Director Incentive Plan filed as of June 21, 1996 of our report dated February
10, 1998, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Ugly Duckling
Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for
each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1997, which report
appears in the December 31, 1997, annual report on Form 10-K of Ugly Duckling
Corporation.
 
                                          KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
 
Phoenix, Arizona
March 27, 1998