WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  


                                   EXHIBIT 27.1
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
    This financial data schedule  contains summary  financial  information as of
and  for the  year  ended  December  31,  1998,  which  is  extracted  from  the
Consolidated  Balance  Sheets,   Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations,   and
Consolidated  Statements  of Cash Flows,  and is  qualified  in its  entirety by
reference to the financial statements within the report on Form 10-K filing.
</LEGEND>

<CIK>                                 0001012704
<NAME>                        UGLY DUCKLING CORP
<MULTIPLIER>                               1,000

       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                         DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                     2,751
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                            234,082
<ALLOWANCES>                              42,616
<INVENTORY>                               44,167
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            0<F1>
<PP&E>                                    41,169
<DEPRECIATION>                             8,199
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           345,975
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       0<F1>
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                 173,828
<OTHER-SE>                                 3,449
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             345,975
<SALES>                                  287,618
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         366,170
<CGS>                                    167,014
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                         118,702
<LOSS-PROVISION>                          67,634
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         6,904
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            5,916
<INCOME-TAX>                               2,396
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        3,520
<DISCONTINUED>                            (9,223)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                              (5,703)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                               (.32)
<EPS-DILUTED>                               (.31)
<FN>
<F1>UNCLASSIFIED BALANCE SHEET </FN>