<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM DECEMBER 31,
1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996
<CASH> 8,381 5,252
<SECURITIES> 0 5,329
<RECEIVABLES> 23,781 12,389
<ALLOWANCES> 0 0
<INVENTORY> 451,848 372,645
<CURRENT-ASSETS> (0)<F1> (0)<F1>
<PP&E> 6,085 5,061
<DEPRECIATION> 3,570 3,320
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 547,665 449,114
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> (0)<F1> (0)<F1>
<BONDS> 178,131 100,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0
<COMMON> 296 296
<OTHER-SE> 283,482 260,093
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 547,665 449,114
<SALES> 584,571 399,863
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 584,571 399,863
<CGS> 490,876 348,066
<TOTAL-COSTS> 543,262 385,417
<OTHER-EXPENSES> (931) (936)
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,981 7,142
<INCOME-PRETAX> 41,046 12,948
<INCOME-TAX> 17,070 5,197
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,976 7,751
<DISCONTINUED> 3,350 642
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 27,326 8,393
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0.93 0.28
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.92 0.28
<FN>
<F1>Amounts for current assets and current liabilities are not shown, since the
balance sheet presented is unclassified.
</FN>