<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)
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<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
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