<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This   schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted from the
Company's  unaudited  financial  statements  as  of  and  for the three months
and  nine  months  ended  September 30, 1996, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001012704
<NAME> UGLY DUCKLING CORP
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                                      <C>            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          3-MOS          9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1996    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                     SEP-30-1996    SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                                   684            684
<SECURITIES>                                           8,963          8,963
<RECEIVABLES>                                         52,930         52,930
<ALLOWANCES>                                           6,626          6,626
<INVENTORY>                                            5,889          5,889
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           0<F1>          0<F1>
<PP&E>                                                13,528         13,528
<DEPRECIATION>                                        (2,505)        (2,505)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                        77,397         77,397
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      0<F1>          0<F1>
<BONDS>                                                    0              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0              0
<PREFERRED>                                           10,000         10,000
<COMMON>                                              18,120         18,120
<OTHER-SE>                                            (1,944)        (1,944)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                          77,397         77,397
<SALES>                                               12,320         42,497
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                      18,259         57,736
<CGS>                                                  6,977         23,835
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                              0              0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       5,584         17,594
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       2,541          7,713
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     1,190          4,479
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        1,967          4,115
<INCOME-TAX>                                               0              0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                        0              0
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0              0
<CHANGES>                                                  0              0
<NET-INCOME>                                           1,967          4,115
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               .19           .47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               .19           .46
<FN>
<F1>UNCLASSIFIED BALANCE SHEET
</FN>
        





</TABLE>