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>