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                                    FORM 10-K


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


[ X ]    ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

                                       OR

[  ]     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the transition period from _____________ to ___________________.
Commission file number 333-19733


                        ADVANTA AUTO FINANCE CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

NEVADA                                                       23-2826077
                                                             ------------------ 
(State or Other Jurisdiction                                 (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation or Organization                             Identification No.)


Welsh & McKean Roads, Spring House, PA                        19027
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                     (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (215) 323-4200


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Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

                                                       Name of each exchange on
    Title of each class                                     which registered:
           None                                                   None
------------------------------                ----------------------------------
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                                None
------------------------------------------------
                                (Title of class)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes            X                    No
             -----                       -----

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and
will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive
proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

State the aggregate market value of the voting stock and non-voting common
equity held by non-affiliates of registrants. The aggregate market value shall
be computed by reference to the price at which the stock was sold, or the
average bid and asked prices of such stock, as of specified date within 60 days
prior to the date of filing:

As of Febrary 28, 1999, $55,517,005.04

Documents Incorporated by Reference:  Part IV.





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                                     PART I


ITEM 1.           BUSINESS

The Advanta Automobile Receivables Trust 1998-1, (the "Trust" or "Issuer") is a
business trust established as of June 1, 1998, pursuant to a Trust Agreement
(the "Trust Agreement") between Advanta Auto Receivables Corp. I (the "Seller")
and Wilmington Trust Company, acting thereunder not in its individual capacity
but solely as trustee under the Trust Agreement (the "Owner Trustee"). The
Issuer's only purpose is the issuance of $41,000,000 5.90% Class A-1 Asset
Backed Notes and $16,602,000 6.09% Class A-2 Asset Backed Notes (collectively,
the "Notes") issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as June 1, 1998 (the
"Indenture") between the Trust and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association,
as indenture trustee and as trust collateral agent (the "Indenture Trust" and
the "Trust Collateral Agent"). The Trust also issued $16,247,642 aggregate
principal amount of 6.09% Asset Backed Certificates which were not offered but
retained by the Seller (the "Certificates"). The assets of the Trust consist
primarily of a pool of sub-prime motor vehicle retail installment sale contracts
(the "Receivables") purchased by the Seller from Advanta Auto Finance
Corporation (the "Registrant" and the "Master Servicer"). Scheduled payments on
the Notes are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed pursuant to a financial
guaranty insurance policy (the "Policy") issued by Financial Security Assurance
(the "Certificate Insurer"). The Receivables are serviced by the Master Servicer
pursuant to a Sale and Servicing Agreement (the "Sale and Servicing Agreement")
dated as of June 1, 1998 among the Issuer, the Seller, the Master Servicer and
the Trust Collateral Agent and Subserviced by Nuvell Financial Services Corp.
(the "Subservicer"). On June 25, 1998, the Seller sold $57,602,000.00
aggregate principal amount of Receivables to the Issuer in exchange for the
Notes and the Issuer sold the Notes pursuant to a public offering, the 
underwriting of which was managed by Salomon Smith Barney.

The Receivables and the distributions thereon, along with certain insurance
proceeds and certain proceeds from liquidation of the Receivables, are the only
significant assets of the Issuer. The Notes represent obligations solely of the
Issuer. The Notes were registered under a Registration Statement (file no.
333-19733) on Form S-3 declared effective on March 21, 1997.



ITEM 2.           PROPERTIES

The Issuer neither owns nor leases any physical properties.

ITEM 3.           LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Master Servicer is not aware of any material pending legal proceedings
involving either the Issuer, the Trustee, the Seller or the Master Servicer with
respect to the Notes or the Issuer's property. However, the Seller is a direct
subsidiary of the Master Servicer and the Master Servicer is an indirect
subsidiary of Advanta Corp., a Delaware


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corporation ("Advanta Corp."), a publicly-traded company with its principal
executive offices located in Spring House, Pennsylvania. The Master Servicer
services Receivables securitized by the Seller.

On January 25, 1999 Advanta Corp. reported that on Friday, January 22, 1999,
Fleet Financial Group, Inc. and certain of its affiliates ("Fleet") filed a
complaint (the "Complaint") against Advanta Corp. and certain of its affiliates
relating to the transaction with Fleet which closed on February 20, 1998 in
which Advanta Corp. contributed most of its consumer credit card business to a
limited liability company owned by Fleet (the "Fleet Transaction"). The
Complaint centers around post-closing adjustments to the transaction and other
matters relating to the Fleet Transaction.

Advanta Corp. believes that the lawsuit is inappropriate and without merit and,
on February 16, 1999 it filed its answer and counterclaims in which it denies
all of the substantive allegations in the Complaint and seeks damages from
Fleet. Advanta Corp. does not expect this suit to have any material adverse
financial impact on its business.

The ability of Advanta Corp.'s subsidiaries to honor their financial and other
obligations is to some extent influenced by the financial condition of Advanta
Corp. Such obligations primarily consist of the Seller's obligation to
repurchase Receivables which are inconsistent with representations and
warranties set forth in certain agreements relating to Notes issued by the Trust
sponsored by the Registrant as well as the obligations of the Master Servicer
pursuant to certain agreements relating to the Notes issued by the Trust.

In addition, on or about March 3, 1999 Advanta Corp. announced that it intends
to exit the business of automobile financing.

This Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected. The most significant among these risks and
uncertainties is the uncertainty of the legal process.

ITEM 4.           SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matter has been submitted to a vote of the holders of beneficial interests in
the Issuer through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise.





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                                     PART II


ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The Trust is not an issuer of common stock in a corporation, although the Notes
have voting rights. The equity of the Trust consists of the beneficial or
ownership interest therein for which, to the best knowledge of the Master
Servicer, there is no established public trading market.

As of March 29, 1999, there were approximately 3 holders of the Class A-1 Notes
and 2 holders of the Class A-2 Notes. The number of holders includes
individual participants in security position listings. As of December 15, 1998,
6 monthly distributions had been made to the holders of the Notes.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Not Applicable.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATION

On June 25, 1998, the Issuer issued $41,000,000.00 aggregate principal amount of
Class A-1 Notes having a fixed rate of 5.90% per annum and $16,602,000.00
aggregate principal amount of Class A-2 Notes having a fixed rate of 6.09% per
annum, which are collateralized by Receivables.

The sale of the Receivables to the Issuer, the issuance of the Notes and the
simultaneous delivery of the Notes to the Issuer for sale pursuant to a public
offering, the underwriting of which was co-managed by Salomon Smith Barney has
been accounted for as a sale of the Notes. The value of the Notes issued by the
Issuer equaled the value of the Receivables conveyed to the Issuer by the
Seller. Accordingly, there was no income to the Issuer resulting from the
aforementioned transaction.

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

The Issuer's primary sources of funds with respect to the Notes will be receipts
of interest on and principal of the Receivables, along with certain insurance
proceeds and certain proceeds from the liquidation of the Receivables. The
respective managements of the Seller and the Master Servicer believe that the
Issuer will have sufficient liquidity and capital resources to pay all amounts
on the Notes as they become due and all other anticipated expenses of the
Issuer. The Issuer does not have, nor will it have in the future, any
significant source of capital for payment of the Notes and its operating
expenses other than the receipt of interest on and principal of the Receivables,
certain



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insurance proceeds and certain proceeds obtained from the liquidation of the
Receivables and any payments made by the Certificate Insurer. The Issuer is a
limited purpose trust. The Notes represent obligations solely of the Issuer.

ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

Not Applicable.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

There were no changes of accountants or disagreements on accounting or financial
disclosures between the Issuer and its accountants.

                                    PART III


ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The Issuer does not have any directors or officers.

The following individuals comprise the board of directors and officers of the
Registrant:

Name                                        Position

David E. Plante                             President
Mark Shapiro                                Vice President and Treasurer
Janice C. George                            Vice President and Director
James Shreero                               Vice President and Director
John Calamari                               Assistant Treasurer and Director
Mark Dunsheath                              Vice President and Director
Francis B. Jacobs II                        Director

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Not Applicable.  The Issuer does not have employees.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth (i) the name and address of each entity owning
more than 5% of the outstanding principal amount of the Advanta Automobile
Receivables Trust 1998-1, Class A-1 Notes ("Class A-1 Notes"), and Class A-2
Notes ("Class A-2 Notes"), (ii) the principal amount of each Class of Notes and
(iii) the percent that the principal amount of each Class of Notes owned
represents of the outstanding principal amount of such Class of Notes. The
information set forth in the table is based upon information obtained by the
Issuer from Depository Trust Company. The Registrant is not aware of any
Schedules 13D or 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
respect of the Notes.


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                                                  AMOUNT OWNED
                                      (All Dollar Amounts are in Thousands)
NAME AND ADDRESS                                 PRINCIPAL      PERCENT

Class A-1 Notes
---------------
Bank of America-Personal Trust (NationsBank N.A.)
555 S. Flower Street, Level C
Los Angeles, CA  90071

                                                   10,000       24.39%

Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company           
c/o Mellon Bank N.A.
Three Mellon Bank Center, Room 153-3015
Pittsburgh, PA  15259                              21,000       51.22%

The First National Bank of Maryland
9th Floor - M/C 109-911
110 So. Paca Street
Baltimore, MD  21201                               10,000       24.39%


Class A-2 Notes
---------------
Bankers Trust Company
c/o BT Services Tennessee Inc.
648 Grassmere Park Drive
Nashville, TN  37211                               15,252       91.86%

Bank One Trust Company, N.A.
235 W. Schrock Road
Brooksedge Village
Westerville, OH  43081                              1,350        8.13%



ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

None.




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                                     PART IV

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)      The following documents are filed as part of this report:
                          1.  Financial Statements:  Not applicable.
                          2.  Financial Statement Schedules:  Not applicable.
                          3. Exhibits: As the Issuer was established as of June
                          25, 1998, the Master Servicer is obligated to prepare
                          an Annual Statement as to Compliance for the year
                          ended December 31, 1998, and mail such statement to
                          the Noteholders on or before the last day of March,
                          1998 and Independent Certified Public Accounts are
                          required to prepare an annual report pertaining to the
                          compliance of the Master Servicer with its servicing
                          obligations pursuant to the Sale and Servicing
                          Agreement on or before the last day of March, 1998.
                          The Annual Statement as to Compliance is included 
                          herewith as Exhibit 28.1 and the Annual Independent 
                          Certified Public Accountants' Report is included 
                          herewith as Exhibit 28.2.

Exhibit No.                Description
-----------                -----------
*3.1                       Certificate of Incorporation of the Advanta Auto
                           Finance Corporation
*3.2                       By-laws of the Advanta Auto Finance Corporation
*4                         Sale and Servicing Agreement
28.1.                      Annual Statement as to Compliance for the year ended
                           December 31, 1998
28.2                       Annual Independent Certified Public Accountants'
                           Report.
*99.1                      Monthly Reports for the payment periods ending
                           June, July, August, September, October, November
                           and December 1998

*Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit of the same designation filed with the
Issuer's Form S-3 registration statement declared effective March 21, 1997 and
also Incorporated by reference from previously filed current Reports on Form 8-K
listed below.

(b)      Reports on Form 8-K.

8 reports on Form 8-K have been filed by the Issuer during the period covered by
this report.




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Date of Reports on Form 8-K    ITEMS REPORTED/
                               FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FILED

July 9, 1998                 Initial Current Report on Form 8-K filed with
                             respect to the Issuance of the Notes

December 30, 1998            Monthly Report for June 1998 Monthly Period
                             relating to Advanta Automobile Receivables Trust
                             1998-1 Class A-1 Asset-Backed Notes and Class A-2
                             Asset-Backed Notes

December 30, 1998            Monthly Report for July 1998 Monthly Period
                             relating to Advanta Automobile Receivables Trust
                             1998-1 Class A-1 Asset-Backed Notes and Class A-2
                             Asset-Backed Notes

December 30, 1998            Monthly Report for August 1998 Monthly Period
                             relating to Advanta Automobile Receivables Trust
                             1998-1 Class A-1 Asset-Backed Notes and Class A-2
                             Asset-Backed Notes

December 30, 1998            Monthly Report for September 1998 Monthly Period
                             relating to Advanta Automobile Receivables Trust
                             1998-1 Class A-1 Asset-Backed Notes and Class A-2
                             Asset-Backed Notes

December 30, 1998            Monthly Report for November 1998 Monthly Period
                             relating to Advanta Automobile Receivables Trust
                             1998-1, Class A-1 Asset-Backed Notes and Class A-2
                             Asset-Backed Notes

January 4, 1999              Monthly Report for the October 1998 Monthly Periods
                             relating to Advanta Automobile Receivables Trust
                             1998-1, Class A-1 Asset-Backed Notes and Class A-2
                             Asset-Backed Notes

January 4, 1999              Monthly Report for the December 1998 Monthly
                             Periods relating to Advanta Automobile Receivables
                             Trust 1998-1, Class A-1 Asset-Backed Notes and
                             Class A-2 Asset-Backed Notes

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(c)      See "Item 14(a)(3)-Exhibits".

(d)      Not applicable.




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                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                      ADVANTA AUTO FINANCE CORPORATION
                      as Registrant and Master Servicer and on behalf of

                      Advanta Automobile Receivables Trust 1998-1


                      By:      /s/ David E. Plante
                         ------------------------------
                               Name:    David E. Plante
                               Title:   President

March 31, 1999

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this
Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


                          By:      /s/ Janice C. George
                             ------------------------------------------
                                   Name:    Janice C. George
                                   Title:   Vice President and Director
                                   Date:    March 31, 1999

                          By:      /s/ James Shreero
                             ------------------------------------------
                                   Name:    James Shreero
                                   Title:   Vice President and Director
                                   Date:    March 31, 1999

                          By:      /s/ John Calamari
                             ------------------------------------------
                                   Name:    John Calamari
                                   Title:   Assistant Treasurer and Director
                                   Date:    March 31, 1999

                          By:      /s/ Mark Dunsheath
                             -------------------------------------------
                                   Name:    Mark Dunsheath
                                   Title:   Vice President and Director
                                   Date:    March 31, 1999



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                         INDEX TO EXHIBITS (ITEM 14(c))

Exhibit No.                     Description
-----------                     -----------
*3.1                            Certificate of Incorporation of the Advanta Auto
                                Finance Corporation
*3.2                            By-laws of the Advanta Auto Finance Corporation
*4                              Sale and Servicing Agreement
28.1                            Annual Statement as to Compliance for the year
                                ended December 31, 1998
28.2                            Annual Independent Certified Public Accountants'
                                Report.
*99.1                           Monthly Reports for the payment periods ending
                                June, July, August, September, October,
                                November and December 1998.


* Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit of the same designation filed with
the Issuer's Form S-3 registration statement declared effective March 21, 1997
and also Incorporated by reference from previously filed Current Reports on Form
8-K listed herein.




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