<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Company's unaudited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1996, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001012704 <NAME> UGLY DUCKLING CORP <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 18,455 <SECURITIES> 13,368 <RECEIVABLES> 59,188 <ALLOWANCES> 8,125 <INVENTORY> 5,752 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0<F1> <PP&E> 23,591 <DEPRECIATION> (2,939) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 118,063 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0<F1> <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 82,612 <OTHER-SE> (293) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 118,063 <SALES> 53,768 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 75,629 <CGS> 29,890 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 24,700 <LOSS-PROVISION> 9,811 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,262 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,866 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,866 <EPS-PRIMARY> .60 <EPS-DILUTED> .60 <FN> <F1>UNCLASSIFIEDBALANCESHEET </FN>