<PAGE>


                                                                      EXHIBIT 11

                          DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
                 STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
             FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                             Three Months Ended           Nine Months Ended
                                                             September 30, 1996          September 30, 1996
                                                          -------------------------    -----------------------
                                                            Actual       Pro Forma       Actual      Pro Forma
                                                         ----------     -----------    ----------    ---------
<S>                                                      <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>

Net income                                               $  1,746       $  1,983       $  6,700       $  8,078
                                                         ----------     -----------    ----------    ---------
                                                         ----------     -----------    ----------    ---------
Weighted average number of
  Class A common stock                                      1,939          3,795            646          3,795

Weighted average number of
  Class B common stock                                      4,998          4,998          5,001          5,001

Dilutive effect of outstanding
  stock options after application
  of the treasury stock method (1)                             18             18             22            22
                                                         ----------     -----------    ----------    ---------
Common and common equivalent
  shares outstanding                                        6,955          8,811          5,669         8,818
                                                         ----------     -----------    ----------    ---------
                                                         ----------     -----------    ----------    ---------
Net income per common and
  common equivalent share                                 $  0.25        $  0.23        $  1.18       $  0.92
                                                         ----------     -----------    ----------    ---------
                                                         ----------     -----------    ----------    ---------

</TABLE>

(1)  Cheap stock is included in the calculation for all periods presented in
     accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
     Commission.


                                      -16-
<PAGE>


                                                                      EXHIBIT 11
                                                                     (CONTINUED)

                          DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
                 STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
             FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                          Three Months Ended            Nine Months Ended
                                                          September 30, 1995            September 30, 1995
                                                        ------------------------   -------------------------
                                                          Actual       Pro Forma        Actual      Pro Forma
                                                        ----------   -----------   ------------    -----------
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>           <C>            <C>

Net income                                                 $  417         $  941       $  7,843       $  6,895
                                                        ---------    -----------   ------------    -----------
                                                        ---------    -----------   ------------    -----------
Weighted average number of
  Class A common stock                                          -          3,795              -          3,795

Weighted average number of
  Class B common stock                                      5,016          5,016          4,954          4,954

Dilutive effect of outstanding
  stock options after application
  of the treasury stock method (1)                             23             23             22             22
                                                        ---------    -----------   ------------    -----------

Common and common equivalent
  shares outstanding                                        5,039          8,834          4,976          8,771
                                                        ---------    -----------   ------------    -----------
                                                        ---------    -----------   ------------    -----------

Net income per common and
  common equivalent share                                 $  0.08        $  0.11        $  1.58        $  0.79
                                                        ---------    -----------   ------------    -----------
                                                        ---------    -----------   ------------    -----------

</TABLE>

(1)  Cheap stock is included in the calculation for all periods presented in
     accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
     Commission.


                                      -17-