<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
This financial data schedule on form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997
contains summary financial information which is incorporated by reference from
the  1997  quarterly  report  and  extracted  from  the Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheets, Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, and Condensed
Consolidated  Statements  of  Cash  Flows, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference  to  the  financial statement within the report on form 10-Q filing.

Any  item provided in the schedule, in accordance with the rules governing the
schedule,  will not be subject to liability under the federal securities laws,
except  to the extent that the financial statements and other information from
which  the  data  were  extracted  violate the federal securities laws.  Also,
pursuant to item 601(c)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  (SEC),  the  schedule shall not be deemed filed for
purposes  of  Section  11  of  the  Securities  Act of 1933, Section 18 of the
Exchange  Act of 1934 and Section 323 of the Trust Indenture Act, or otherwise
be  subject to the liabilities of such sections, nor shall it be deemed a part
of  any  registration  statement  to  which  it  relates.

       <CAPTION>
<S>                           <C>
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                 0001012704
<NAME>                        UGLY DUCKLING CORP
<MULTIPLIER>                               1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                  MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                    73,237
<SECURITIES>                              23,162
<RECEIVABLES>                             69,790
<ALLOWANCES>                              15,442
<INVENTORY>                                9,270
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           0<F1>
<PP&E>                                    28,471
<DEPRECIATION>                             3,475
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           206,076
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      0<F1>
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                 171,274
<OTHER-SE>                                 2,969
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             174,243
<SALES>                                   18,211
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                          29,230
<CGS>                                      9,164
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          11,406
<LOSS-PROVISION>                           3,981
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           769
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            5,414
<INCOME-TAX>                               2,152
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            0
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                               3,262
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                .20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                .20
<FN>
<F1>UNCLASSIFIEDBALANCESHEET
</FN>
        







</TABLE>