<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<RESTATED>
<CIK> 0000925548
<NAME> TOWER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996             MAR-31-1996             JUN-30-1996
             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                             957                  39,596                   1,057                  54,273
                  38,534
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   39,133                  61,073                  53,075                  71,197
                  70,071
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<INVENTORY>                                     11,398                  21,864                  14,777                  22,170
                  24,094
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                61,826                 140,954                  75,735                 156,993
                 144,754
<PP&E>                                          97,778                 176,812                 115,632                 165,201
                 170,679
<DEPRECIATION>                                (10,191)                (20,564)                (12,398)                (15,002)
                (18,246)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 209,476                 402,595                 251,710                 405,229
                 406,878
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           29,581                  55,431                  49,234                  68,689
                  75,192
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<COMMON>                                           108                     143                     108                     140
                     142
<OTHER-SE>                                      85,477                 181,734                  88,879                 163,881
                 174,406
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   209,476                 402,595                 251,710                 405,229
                 406,878
<SALES>                                        222,801                 399,925                  68,921                 165,442
                 280,025
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               222,801                 399,925                  68,921                 165,442
                 280,025
<CGS>                                          185,388                 338,290                  58,406                 139,576
                 237,118
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  185,388                 338,290                  58,406                 139,576
                 237,118
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                15,493                  22,195                   3,889                   8,933
                  15,819
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,799                   5,103                   1,308                   2,773
                   4,302
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 20,121                  34,337                   5,318                  14,160
                  22,786
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,050                  13,700                   2,130                   5,670
                   9,060
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             12,071                  20,637                   3,188                   8,490
                  13,726
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,071                  20,637                   3,188                   8,490
                  13,726
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.11                    1.63                     .29                     .75
                    1.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.05                    1.55                     .28                     .72
                    1.08


</TABLE>