<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
REGISTRANT'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 FILED AS PART OF THE REGISTRANT'S FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER
30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-K.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000073609
<NAME>                        OAKWOOD HOMES CORP.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                            28,971
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    563,010
<ALLOWANCES>                                       1,653
<INVENTORY>                                      291,352
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                       0
<PP&E>                                           303,161
<DEPRECIATION>                                    65,435
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,283,376
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            601,476
<BONDS>                                           61,875
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                          23,330
<OTHER-SE>                                       524,345
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,283,376
<SALES>                                        1,404,432
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,482,553
<CGS>                                            973,434
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1,367,914
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                24,549
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   90,090
<INCOME-TAX>                                      34,737
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    0
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                      55,353
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       1.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       1.17