<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000889468 <NAME> Blue Bird Body Company <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> NOV-02-1997 <PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998 <CASH> 4,659 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 60,812 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 105,471 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 175,436 <PP&E> 69,045 <DEPRECIATION> (31,939) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 413,441 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 74,902 <BONDS> 336,881 <COMMON> 19,208 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> (45,366) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 413,441 <SALES> 90,901 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 90,901 <CGS> 74,615 <TOTAL-COSTS> 12,187 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (2,237) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,462 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,126) <INCOME-TAX> (622) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,504) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,504) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0