<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000889468 <NAME> Blue Bird Body Company <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-01-1997 <PERIOD-START> NOV-03-1996 <PERIOD-END> FEB-01-1997 <CASH> 1,751 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 47,779 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 88,793 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 161,140 <PP&E> 65,162 <DEPRECIATION> (27,176) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 391,136 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 78,743 <BONDS> 329,911 <COMMON> 12,737 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> (56,341) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 391,136 <SALES> 84,107 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 84,107 <CGS> 69,560 <TOTAL-COSTS> 28,256 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (1,771) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,554 <INCOME-PRETAX> (19,492) <INCOME-TAX> (12,992) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (6,500) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (2,986) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (9,486) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0