<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