Exhibit 5.1


                              [Letterhead of]

                          CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE
                             [New York Office]


                               (212) 474-1000


                                                            October 1, 1997


                              AVX Corporation


Dear Sirs:

          We have acted as counsel for AVX Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), in connection with a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") filed
with the securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Act of 1933 for the registration of an additional 1,100,000
shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Shares"), of the Company to be
issued pursuant to or reserved for issuance under the AVX Corporation 1995
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

          In that connection, we have examined originals, or copies
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents,
corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the
purposes of this opinion, including the Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company and the By-laws of the Company.

          Based upon the foregoing, we are of opinion as follows:

          1. The Company is a corporation validly existing under the laws
     of the State of Delaware.

          2. The Shares have been duly and validly authorized, and when
     issued in accordance with and to the extent permitted by the terms of
     the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.






          We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as part of the
Registration Statement.


                                        Very truly yours,

                                        Cravath, Swaine & Moore


AVX Corporation
   801 17th Avenue South
      Myrtle Beach, SC 29577