<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000889468 <NAME> BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAY-01-1999 <CASH> 7,875 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 72,566 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 175,306 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 259,794 <PP&E> 75,604 <DEPRECIATION> (38,404) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 503,573 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 152,463 <BONDS> 322,969 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 46,027 <OTHER-SE> (44,380) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 503,573 <SALES> 237,274 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 237,274 <CGS> 193,336 <TOTAL-COSTS> 25,321 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (4,912) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,602 <INCOME-PRETAX> 7,927 <INCOME-TAX> 2,798 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,129 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,129 <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0