<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Envirotest Systems Corp. Form 10-Q dated March 31, 1997 and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                               1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
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<PERIOD-START>                  OCT-01-1996 
<PERIOD-END>                    MAR-31-1996 
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