<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF 9/30/98 (UNAUDITED) AND 12/31/97 AND THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED 9/30/98
AND 9/30/97 AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED 9/30/98 AND 9/30/97 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001065418
<NAME> KEY COMPONENTS LLC
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                   <C>               <C>                 <C>                  <C>                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         9-MOS             9-MOS               3-MOS                3-MOS               YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     DEC-31-1998       DEC-31-1997         DEC-31-1998          DEC-31-1997         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                        JAN-01-1998       JAN-01-1997         JUL-01-1997          JUL-01-1997         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                          SEP-30-1998       SEP-30-1997         SEP-30-1998          SEP-30-1997         DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                     12,671                 0                   0                    0               1,440
<SECURITIES>                                    0                 0                   0                    0                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                               8,442                 0                   0                    0               7,763
<ALLOWANCES>                                   83                 0                   0                    0                  81
<INVENTORY>                                 9,231                 0                   0                    0               8,432
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           31,057                 0                   0                    0              18,211
<PP&E>                                     17,145                 0                   0                    0              16,124
<DEPRECIATION>                              5,042                 0                   0                    0               4,144
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             93,774                 0                   0                    0              79,757
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       7,550                 0                   0                    0               7,530
<BONDS>                                    80,893                 0                   0                    0              63,378
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0                 0                   0                    0                   0
<PREFERRED>                                     0                 0                   0                    0                   0
<COMMON>                                    1,536                 0                   0                    0               1,036
<OTHER-SE>                                  3,795                 0                   0                    0               7,811
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               93,774                 0                   0                    0              79,757
<SALES>                                    47,444            17,451              14,429                7,670                   0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           47,444            17,451              14,429                7,670                   0
<CGS>                                      29,928             9,586               9,349                4,333                   0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              29,928             9,586               9,349                4,333                   0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            8,029             4,013               2,470                1,657                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               19                10                   7                    4                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          5,460             1,681               2,166                1,037                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             4,303             2,218                 592                  676                   0
<INCOME-TAX>                                   26               828               (114)                    0                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         4,277             1,390                 706                  676                   0
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0                 0                   0                    0                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                             4,616                 0                   0                    0                   0
<CHANGES>                                       0                 0                   0                    0                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                (339)             1,390                 706                  676                   0
<EPS-PRIMARY>                              (3.35)             13.90                6.92                 6.76                   0
<EPS-DILUTED>                              (3.12)             12.96                6.92                 5.91                   0
        


</TABLE>