<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM STATEMENT OF
ASSETS & LIABILITIES; STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS; STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET
ASSETS; STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS; PER SHARE TABLE AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 002
   <NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL VARIABLE CONTRACT REAL PROPERTY PARTNERSHIP
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      201,660,410
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     181,662,701
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,732,930
<ASSETS-OTHER>                              33,570,299
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             217,965,930
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          3,596,711
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                             0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       11,848,275
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       11,848,275
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                               214,369,219
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,905,560
<OTHER-INCOME>                              17,564,130
<EXPENSES-NET>                               8,098,519
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     11,371,171
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (269,052)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    6,010,306
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       17,112,425
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      17,112,425
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        1,944,966
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             220,118
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              8,098,519
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                           16.649
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .960
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           .485
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                             18.093
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   .040
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0