UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


               January 11, 2001 (Date of earliest event reported)

                            UGLY DUCKLING CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


                DELAWARE            000-20841           86-0721358
    (State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission         (IRS Employer
           of Incorporation)       File Number)      Identification No.)

           2525 East Camelback Road, Suite 500, Phoenix, Arizona 85016
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (602) 852-6600

                                 Not Applicable
           (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)






ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         Attached   hereto  as  Exhibit   99.1  is  a  copy  of  Ugly   Duckling
Corporation's  press  release  dated  January  11, 2001  titled  "Ugly  Duckling
Announces  Closing of Senior  Secured Loan Facility and  Subordinated  Loan with
Chairman and Largest Shareholder."

EXHIBIT
NO.              DESCRIPTION

99.1             Ugly Duckling Corporation Press Release Dated January 11, 2001
                 Titled "Ugly Duckling Announces Closing of Senior Secured Loan
                 Facility and Subordinated Loan with Chairman and Largest
                 Shareholder."


                                                              SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: January 15, 2001                                UGLY DUCKLING CORPORATION
                                                              (Registrant)


                                                   By:   /s/ JON D. EHLINGER
                                                       -----------------------
                                                              (Signature)
                                                   Jon D. Ehlinger
                                                   Secretary and General Counsel