<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000889468 <NAME> Blue Bird Body Company <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> NOV-02-1997 <PERIOD-END> AUG-01-1998 <CASH> 8,677 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 78,535 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 180,526 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 272,126 <PP&E> 70,173 <DEPRECIATION> (34,636) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 504,914 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 164,783 <BONDS> 328,516 <COMMON> 18,434 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> (34,595) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 504,914 <SALES> 394,172 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 394,172 <CGS> 322,750 <TOTAL-COSTS> 37,513 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (6,067) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 26,455 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,521 <INCOME-TAX> 4,505 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 9,016 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,016 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0