<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0001012704 
<NAME> UGLY DUCKLING CORP 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000 
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                                 JUN-30-1998 
<CASH>                                             1,652 
<SECURITIES>                                      17,884 
<RECEIVABLES>                                     61,678 
<ALLOWANCES>                                       5,950 
<INVENTORY>                                       34,690 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                       0<F1>
<PP&E>                                            33,395  
<DEPRECIATION>                                     5,610 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   278,845
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                  0<F1>
<BONDS>                                                0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0 
<PREFERRED>                                            0 
<COMMON>                                         173,562 
<OTHER-SE>                                        10,228
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     278,845 
<SALES>                                          142,491 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 166,357 
<CGS>                                             81,213 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                          0 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  44,062 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  29,308 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 1,164 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   10,610 
<INCOME-TAX>                                       4,274 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                6,336 
<DISCONTINUED>                                   (5,254) 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0 
<CHANGES>                                              0 
<NET-INCOME>                                       1,082 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        .06 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        .06 
<FN>
<F1>UNCLASSIFIED BALANCE SHEET 
</FN>