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                                                                    Exhibit 4(a)

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE


Original Face Amount:  $____________
Maker: UGLY DUCKLING CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
Dated as of: February 12, 1998



                  1. PROMISE TO REPAY. FOR VALUE RECEIVED, UGLY DUCKLING
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Maker"), promises to pay to
_____________________ ("Payee"), or order, the principal sum of
_________________ Dollars ($________) or such lesser amount as shall equal the
outstanding amount of the loan (the "Loan") made by Payee to Maker, pursuant to
Section 2.01 of that certain Loan Agreement, dated as of February 12, 1998,
entered into between Maker and each of Payee and the other Lenders named therein
(the "Loan Agreement").

                  2. DEFINED TERMS. Any and all initially capitalized terms used
herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Loan Agreement, unless
specifically defined herein. The term "or" as used in this Note has, except
where otherwise indicated, the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase
"and/or". This Promissory Note (this "Note") is one of the promissory notes
defined in the Loan Agreement as the "Notes" and is subject to, and entitled to
the benefits of, the terms and provisions of the Loan Agreement.

                  3. PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.

                           (a) Maker hereby promises to make payments of
principal and interest with respect to the Loan evidenced hereby at the rates
and times, and in the amounts, and in all other respects in the manner as
provided in the Loan Agreement.

                           (b) As more fully set forth in the Loan Agreement,
Maker shall not be obligated to pay, and the holder of this Note shall not be
obligated to charge, collect, receive, reserve, or take interest (it being
understood that interest shall be calculated as the aggregate of all charges
which constitute interest under applicable law that are contracted for, charged,
reserved, received, or paid) in excess of the maximum nonusurious interest rate,
as in effect from time to time, which may be charged, contracted for, reserved,
received, or collected by Payee in connection with the Loan Agreement, this
Note, the other Loan Documents, or any other documents executed in connection
herewith or therewith.

                  4. PREPAYMENTS. Maker may prepay the principal balance due
under this Note, in whole or in part, without penalty or premium, only in
accordance with the provisions of the Loan Agreement.

                  5. APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS. All payments (including
prepayments) made hereunder shall be applied first to accrued and unpaid
interest and then to principal.

                  6. TIME AND PLACE OF PAYMENTS. All principal and interest due
hereunder is payable in U.S. Dollars in immediately available funds at Payee's
office located at 1800 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90067 (or
at such other office as may be designated from time to time by Payee), not later
than 1:30 p.m., Phoenix, Arizona time, on the date of payment.


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                  7. WAIVERS. Maker, for itself and its legal representatives,
successors, and assigns, expressly waives presentment, demand, protest, notice
(except as required by the Loan Agreement), and all other requirements of any
kind, in connection with the enforcement or collection of this Note.

                  8. ACCELERATION AND WAIVER. IT IS EXPRESSLY AGREED THAT, UPON
THE OCCURRENCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT AS SPECIFIED IN SECTIONS 7.01(g) THROUGH
(L) OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT, THE UNPAID PRINCIPAL BALANCE OF AND ANY ACCRUED AND
UNPAID INTEREST UNDER THIS NOTE SHALL AUTOMATICALLY BECOME IMMEDIATELY DUE AND
PAYABLE PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT, AND, UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF
ANY OTHER EVENT OF DEFAULT SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7.01 OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT, THE
UNPAID PRINCIPAL BALANCE OF ANY ACCRUED AND UNPAID INTEREST UNDER THIS NOTE MAY,
BY NOTICE IN WRITING TO MAKER, BE DECLARED TO BE IMMEDIATELY DUE AND PAYABLE
PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT, WITHOUT PRESENTMENT, DEMAND,
PROTEST, NOTICE (EXCEPT AS REQUIRED THE LOAN AGREEMENT), OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS
OF ANY KIND, ALL OF WHICH ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVED BY MAKER.

                  9. ATTORNEYS' FEES. In the event it should become necessary to
employ counsel to collect or enforce this Note, Maker agrees to pay the
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs (including those of in-house counsel) of
the holder hereof, irrespective of whether suit is brought, to the extent and as
provided in the Loan Agreement.

                  10. AMENDMENTS. This Note may not be changed, modified,
amended, or terminated except by a writing duly executed by Maker and the holder
hereof.

                  11. HEADINGS. Section headings used in this Note are solely
for convenience of reference, shall not constitute a part of this Note for any
other purpose, and shall not affect the construction of this Note.

                  12. GOVERNING LAW. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THE LOAN
AGREEMENT: (A) THIS NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA; AND (B) THE VALIDITY OF THIS NOTE AND THE CONSTRUCTION,
INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES HERETO SHALL BE
DETERMINED UNDER, GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

                  13. WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. MAKER, TO THE EXTENT IT MAY
LEGALLY DO SO, HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM,
DEMAND, ACTION, CAUSE OF ACTION, OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER OR WITH RESPECT TO
THIS NOTE, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH, OR RELATED TO, OR INCIDENTAL TO, THE
DEALINGS OF MAKER, AND PAYEE, WITH RESPECT TO THIS NOTE, OR THE TRANSACTIONS
RELATED HERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND
IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE. TO THE EXTENT
IT MAY LEGALLY DO SO, MAKER HEREBY AGREES THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION,
CAUSE OF ACTION, OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE DECIDED BY A COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY
AND THAT

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PAYEE MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT
AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF MAKER TO WAIVER OF ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY
JURY.


Dated as of February 12, 1998.


                                            UGLY DUCKLING CORPORATION,
                                            a Delaware corporation



                                            By:_________________________________
                                            Name:   Steven P. Johnson
                                            Title:  Senior Vice President and
                                                    General Counsel


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