<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000889468 <NAME> Blue Bird Body Company <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-01-1997 <PERIOD-START> NOV-03-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAY-03-1997 <CASH> 1,498 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 55,213 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 152,807 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 230,340 <PP&E> 67,139 <DEPRECIATION> (28,556) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 461,358 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 152,536 <BONDS> 327,429 <COMMON> 9,482 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> (54,506) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 461,358 <SALES> 178,915 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 178,915 <CGS> 146,260 <TOTAL-COSTS> 40,774 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (3,747) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,149 <INCOME-PRETAX> (20,521) <INCOME-TAX> (13,248) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (7,273) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (2,986) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (10,259) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0