<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000889468 <NAME> Blue Bird Body Company <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> NOV-02-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAY-02-1998 <CASH> 3,979 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 59,921 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 172,659 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 241,328 <PP&E> 69,498 <DEPRECIATION> (33,260) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 477,769 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 144,253 <BONDS> 331,098 <COMMON> 18,603 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> (43,985) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 477,769 <SALES> 193,614 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 193,614 <CGS> 157,168 <TOTAL-COSTS> 24,621 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (4,234) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17,098 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,039) <INCOME-TAX> (322) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (717) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (717) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0