<TABLE> <S> <C>

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

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             JUN-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          33,307                  34,599                  10,776
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   74,840                 197,869                 210,282
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                     26,508                  74,921                  86,432
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                17,101                 109,123                 391,359
<PP&E>                                         187,334                 703,630               1,132,102
<DEPRECIATION>                                (24,154)                (33,987)               (423,778)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 421,222               1,463,553               1,477,934
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           71,990                 235,471                 232,978
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           143                     228                     229
<OTHER-SE>                                     189,659                 484,990                 497,069
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   421,222               1,463,553               1,477,934
<SALES>                                        125,117                 452,389                 801,896
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               125,117                 452,389                 801,896
<CGS>                                          106,105                 387,441                 689,566
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  106,105                 387,441                 689,566
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 6,472                  23,838                  43,611
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,348                   7,953                  15,852
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 11,192                  33,157                  52,867
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,474                  13,258                  21,140
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              6,718                  19,899                  31,727
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                   2,434                   2,434
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,718                  17,465                  29,293
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .47                     .98                    1.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .45                     .94                    1.44


</TABLE>