As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 3, 1997
                                                       Registration No. 333-

===============================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                              --------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             ----------------------

                              THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.
               (Exact Name of Issuer as specified in its charter)


          Delaware                                         93-0768752
 (State of other Jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
  Incorporation or Organization)                       Identification No.)


                              419 West Pike Street
                           Jackson Center, Ohio 45334
                                 (937) 596-6849
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                 --------------

                              THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.
                              RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)
                                 --------------

                                Walter L. Bennett
                              Thor Industries, Inc.
                              419 West Pike Street
                           Jackson Center, Ohio 45334

                     (Name and address of agent for service)

Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service: (937) 596-6849

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                             CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


=======================================================================================================================
                                                     Proposed                   Proposed
                                                     Maximum                    Maximum                   Amount of
Title of Shares           Amount to be            Offering Price                Aggregate               Registration
to be Registered           Registered               Per Share(1)                Offering Price(1)            Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>                      <C>                          <C>                     <C>

Common Stock (par
value $.10 per            100,000 shares           $30.84                       $3,084,000              $935
Share)
=======================================================================================================================

(1)       Estimated  solely for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee pursuant to Rule 457 of the Securities
          Act of 1933,  using  the  average  of the high and low  prices  reported  on the New York  Stock  Exchange  on
          November 25, 1997.

</TABLE>
<PAGE>



                                     PART I

Item 1.   PLAN INFORMATION.

          Not included pursuant to Form S-8 instructions.

Item 2.   REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

          Not included pursuant to Form S-8 instructions.


                                     PART II

Item 3.   INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

          Thor Industries,  Inc. (the "Company") hereby  incorporates  herein by
reference the following documents:

          (1)  The  Company's annual report on form 10-K for the year ended July
               31, 1997;

          (2)  All  reports  filed  pursuant  to  Section  13(a) or 15(d) of the
               Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the"Exchange Act"),
               on or after July 31, 1997; and

          (3)  The description of the Company's Common Stock, $.10 par value per
               share,  contained in the Form 8-A filed with the  Securities  and
               Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on August 8, 1986, and any
               report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

          In addition,  all documents filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections
13(a),  13(c),  14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act  subsequent to the date of this
Registration  Statement  and prior to the filing of a  post-effective  amendment
which  indicates  that all  securities  offered  herein  have been sold or which
deregisters  all  securities  then  remaining  unsold  shall  be  deemed  to  be
incorporated  herein by  reference  and to be a part hereof from the  respective
date of filing of each such document.

Item 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

          Not applicable.


Item 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

          Not applicable.

                                       2

<PAGE>


Item 6.   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

          Section  145 of the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law  grants  each
corporation  organized  under  Delaware law,  such as the Company,  the power to
indemnify  its directors  and officers in certain  circumstances.  The Company's
By-laws and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provide for indemnification of
directors  and  officers of the Company to the extent  permitted by Section 145.
Additionally,  the By-laws  provide that a director of the Company  shall not be
personally  liable to the Company or its  stockholders  for monetary damages for
the breach of any fiduciary  duty as director,  except (a) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its  stockholders,  (b) for acts of
omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional  misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
as amended from time to time, or (d) for any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit.

          Except  to the  extent  hereinabove  set  forth,  there is no  Charter
provision, By-law, contract,  arrangement or statute under which any director or
officer  of the  Company is insured or  indemnified  in any manner  against  any
liability which he may incur in his capacity as such.

Item 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

          Not applicable.

Item 8.   EXHIBITS.

Exhibit No.                                 Exhibit
-----------                                 -------

3.1       Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  of the Company dated December
          18, 1986 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 of the Company's Form
          S-8 registration statement, File No. 33-13827)

3.2       By-Laws of the Company  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 of the
          Company's Form S-8 registration statement, File No. 33-13827)

4.1       Restricted Stock Plan

23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent accountants

24.1      Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Form S-8)

                                       3
<PAGE>


Item 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.

          (a)  The undersigned hereby undertakes:

          (1)  to file,  during  any  period in which  offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

          (i)  To include any  prospectus  required  by Section  10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act");

          (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising after
the  effective  date  of  the   registration   statement  (or  the  most  recent
post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,  individually  or in the  aggregate,
represent a fundamental  change in the information set forth in the registration
statement; and

          (iii)To include any material  information  with respect to the plan of
distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the  registration  statement or any
material change to such  information in the  registration  statement;

provided,  however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
--------   -------
information to be included in a post-effective  amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or
Section  15(d) of the  Exchange  Act that are  incorporated  by reference in the
registration statement.

          (2) that,  for the  purpose of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities Act, each such  post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof; and

          (3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

          (b)  The undersigned  registrant  hereby undertakes that, for purposes
               of  determining  any  liability  under the  Securities  Act, each
               filing of the  registrant's  Annual  Report  pursuant  to Section
               13(a)  or  Section   15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act  (and,   where
               applicable,  each filing of an  employee  benefit  plan's  Annual
               Report  pursuant to Section  15(d) of the  Exchange  Act) that is
               incorporated by reference in the registration  statement shall be
               deemed  to  be a  new  registration  statement  relating  to  the
               securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
               at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
               thereof.

          (c)  Insofar as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
               Securities  Act  may be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and
               controlling  persons of the registrant  pursuant to the foregoing
               provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in
               the opinion of the  Commission  such  indemnification  is against
               public  policy  as  expressed  in  the  Act  and  is,  therefore,



                                        4
<PAGE>


               unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for  indemnification
               against  such   liabilities   (other  than  the  payment  by  the
               registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
               controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of
               any action,  suit or  proceeding)  is asserted by such  director,
               officer or controlling  person in connection  with the securities
               being  registered,  the registrant will, unless in the opinion of
               its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
               submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question
               whether such  indemnification  by it is against  public policy as
               expressed   in  the  Act  and  will  be  governed  by  the  final
               adjudication of such issue.

                                       5
<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

          Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  registration  statement  to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized,  in Jackson Center, State
of Ohio on this 26th day of November, 1997.


                                        THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                        /s/ WADE F.B. THOMPSON
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        By:  Wade F.B. Thompson
                                             President, Chairman of the Board
                                             and Chief Executive Officer



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          Each of the  undersigned  officers and  directors of Thor  Industries,
Inc. hereby severally  constitutes and appoints Wade F.B.  Thompson and Peter B.
Orthwein,  and each of them severally,  as attorney-in-fact for the undersigned,
in any and all  capacities,  with  full  power  of  substitution,  to sign  this
Registration  Statement  and  any  amendments  to  this  Registration  Statement
(including  post-effective  amendments),  and to file  the  same  with  exhibits
thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission,   granting  into  said  attorney-in-fact  full  power  and
authority to do and perform  each and every act  requisite  and  necessary to be
done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might
or  could  do  in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  'confirming  all  that  said
attorney-in-fact may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

          Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  this
report has been signed below by the following  persons in the  capacities and on
the dates indicated.

         NAME              TITLE                             DATE
         ----              -----                             ---- 

/s/ WADE F.B. THOMPSON     President, Chairman of the Board  November 26, 1997
----------------------     and Chief Executive Officer
Wade F.B. Thompson


/s/ PETER B. ORTHWEIN      Vice Chairman, Treasurer and      November 26, 1997
---------------------      Director
Peter B. Orthwein


/s/ ALAN SIEGEL            Director                          November 26, 1997
---------------------
Alan Siegel


/s/ WILLIAM TOMSON         Director                          November 26, 1997
---------------------
William Tomson


/s/ WALTER L. BENNETT      Senior Vice President             November 26, 1997
---------------------      (Finance) and Secretary
Walter L. Bennett                   


                                       6
 

<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

The following is a complete list of exhibits filed as part of this  registration
statement:

Exhibit No.                        Exhibit
-----------                        -------

3.1            Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  the  Company  dated
               December 18, 1986  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 of the
               Company's Form S-8 registration statement, File No. 33-13827)

3.2            By-Laws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 of
               the Company's Form S-8 registration statement, File No. 33-13827)

4.1            Restricted Stock Plan

23.1           Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent accountants

24.1           Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Form S-8)


                                       7
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8 RE THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15163}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "THOR INDUSTRIES INC", "cik": "0000730263", "assigned-sic": "3716", "irs-number": "930768752", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0731"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-41409", "film-number": "97731938"}, "business-address": {"street1": "419 W PIKE ST", "city": "JACKSON CENTER", "state": "OH", "zip": "45334", "phone": "5135966849"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "419 W PIKE STREET", "city": "JACKSON CENTER", "state": "OH", "zip": "45334"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 3, 1997
                                                       Registration No. 333-

===============================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                              --------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             ----------------------

                              THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.
               (Exact Name of Issuer as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                                         93-0768752
 (State of other Jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
  Incorporation or Organization)                       Identification No.)

                              419 West Pike Street
                           Jackson Center, Ohio 45334
                                 (937) 596-6849
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                 --------------

                              THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.
                              RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)
                                 --------------

                                Walter L. Bennett
                              Thor Industries, Inc.
                              419 West Pike Street
                           Jackson Center, Ohio 45334

                     (Name and address of agent for service)

Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service: (937) 596-6849
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

=======================================================================================================================
                                                     Proposed                   Proposed
                                                     Maximum                    Maximum                   Amount of
Title of Shares           Amount to be            Offering Price                Aggregate               Registration
to be Registered           Registered               Per Share(1)                Offering Price(1)            Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock (par
value $.10 per            100,000 shares           $30.84                       $3,084,000              $935
Share)
=======================================================================================================================

(1)       Estimated  solely for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee pursuant to Rule 457 of the Securities
          Act of 1933,  using  the  average  of the high and low  prices  reported  on the New York  Stock  Exchange  on
          November 25, 1997.
PART I

Item 1.   PLAN INFORMATION.

          Not included pursuant to Form S-8 instructions.

Item 2.   REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

          Not included pursuant to Form S-8 instructions.

                                     PART II

Item 3.   INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

          Thor Industries,  Inc. (the "Company") hereby  incorporates  herein by
reference the following documents:

          (1)  The  Company's annual report on form 10-K for the year ended July
               31, 1997;

          (2)  All  reports  filed  pursuant  to  Section  13(a) or 15(d) of the
               Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the"Exchange Act"),
               on or after July 31, 1997; and

          (3)  The description of the Company's Common Stock, $.10 par value per
               share,  contained in the Form 8-A filed with the  Securities  and
               Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on August 8, 1986, and any
               report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

          In addition,  all documents filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections
13(a),  13(c),  14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act  subsequent to the date of this
Registration  Statement  and prior to the filing of a  post-effective  amendment
which  indicates  that all  securities  offered  herein  have been sold or which
deregisters  all  securities  then  remaining  unsold  shall  be  deemed  to  be
incorporated  herein by  reference  and to be a part hereof from the  respective
date of filing of each such document.

Item 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

          Not applicable.

Item 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

          Not applicable.

                                       2
Item 6.   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

          Section  145 of the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law  grants  each
corporation  organized  under  Delaware law,  such as the Company,  the power to
indemnify  its directors  and officers in certain  circumstances.  The Company's
By-laws and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provide for indemnification of
directors  and  officers of the Company to the extent  permitted by Section 145.
Additionally,  the By-laws  provide that a director of the Company  shall not be
personally  liable to the Company or its  stockholders  for monetary damages for
the breach of any fiduciary  duty as director,  except (a) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its  stockholders,  (b) for acts of
omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional  misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
as amended from time to time, or (d) for any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit.

          Except  to the  extent  hereinabove  set  forth,  there is no  Charter
provision, By-law, contract,  arrangement or statute under which any director or
officer  of the  Company is insured or  indemnified  in any manner  against  any
liability which he may incur in his capacity as such.

Item 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

          Not applicable.

Item 8.   EXHIBITS.

Exhibit No.                                 Exhibit
-----------                                 -------

3.1       Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  of the Company dated December
          18, 1986 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 of the Company's Form
          S-8 registration statement, File No. 33-13827)

3.2       By-Laws of the Company  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 of the
          Company's Form S-8 registration statement, File No. 33-13827)

4.1       Restricted Stock Plan

23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent accountants

24.1      Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Form S-8)

                                       3
Item 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.

          (a)  The undersigned hereby undertakes:

          (1)  to file,  during  any  period in which  offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

          (i)  To include any  prospectus  required  by Section  10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act");

          (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising after
the  effective  date  of  the   registration   statement  (or  the  most  recent
post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,  individually  or in the  aggregate,
represent a fundamental  change in the information set forth in the registration
statement; and

          (iii)To include any material  information  with respect to the plan of
distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the  registration  statement or any
material change to such  information in the  registration  statement;

provided,  however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
--------   -------
information to be included in a post-effective  amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or
Section  15(d) of the  Exchange  Act that are  incorporated  by reference in the
registration statement.

          (2) that,  for the  purpose of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities Act, each such  post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof; and

          (3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

          (b)  The undersigned  registrant  hereby undertakes that, for purposes
               of  determining  any  liability  under the  Securities  Act, each
               filing of the  registrant's  Annual  Report  pursuant  to Section
               13(a)  or  Section   15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act  (and,   where
               applicable,  each filing of an  employee  benefit  plan's  Annual
               Report  pursuant to Section  15(d) of the  Exchange  Act) that is
               incorporated by reference in the registration  statement shall be
               deemed  to  be a  new  registration  statement  relating  to  the
               securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
               at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
               thereof.

          (c)  Insofar as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
               Securities  Act  may be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and
               controlling  persons of the registrant  pursuant to the foregoing
               provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in
               the opinion of the  Commission  such  indemnification  is against
               public  policy  as  expressed  in  the  Act  and  is,  therefore,

                                        4
unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for  indemnification
               against  such   liabilities   (other  than  the  payment  by  the
               registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
               controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of
               any action,  suit or  proceeding)  is asserted by such  director,
               officer or controlling  person in connection  with the securities
               being  registered,  the registrant will, unless in the opinion of
               its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
               submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question
               whether such  indemnification  by it is against  public policy as
               expressed   in  the  Act  and  will  be  governed  by  the  final
               adjudication of such issue.

                                       5
SIGNATURES

          Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  registration  statement  to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized,  in Jackson Center, State
of Ohio on this 26th day of November, 1997.

                                        THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                        /s/ WADE F.B. THOMPSON
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        By:  Wade F.B. Thompson
                                             President, Chairman of the Board
                                             and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          Each of the  undersigned  officers and  directors of Thor  Industries,
Inc. hereby severally  constitutes and appoints Wade F.B.  Thompson and Peter B.
Orthwein,  and each of them severally,  as attorney-in-fact for the undersigned,
in any and all  capacities,  with  full  power  of  substitution,  to sign  this
Registration  Statement  and  any  amendments  to  this  Registration  Statement
(including  post-effective  amendments),  and to file  the  same  with  exhibits
thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission,   granting  into  said  attorney-in-fact  full  power  and
authority to do and perform  each and every act  requisite  and  necessary to be
done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might
or  could  do  in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  'confirming  all  that  said
attorney-in-fact may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

          Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  this
report has been signed below by the following  persons in the  capacities and on
the dates indicated.

         NAME              TITLE                             DATE
         ----              -----                             ---- 

/s/ WADE F.B. THOMPSON     President, Chairman of the Board  November 26, 1997
----------------------     and Chief Executive Officer
Wade F.B. Thompson

/s/ PETER B. ORTHWEIN      Vice Chairman, Treasurer and      November 26, 1997
---------------------      Director
Peter B. Orthwein

/s/ ALAN SIEGEL            Director                          November 26, 1997
---------------------
Alan Siegel

/s/ WILLIAM TOMSON         Director                          November 26, 1997
---------------------
William Tomson

/s/ WALTER L. BENNETT      Senior Vice President             November 26, 1997
---------------------      (Finance) and Secretary
Walter L. Bennett                   

                                       6
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

The following is a complete list of exhibits filed as part of this  registration
statement:

Exhibit No.                        Exhibit
-----------                        -------

3.1            Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  the  Company  dated
               December 18, 1986  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 of the
               Company's Form S-8 registration statement, File No. 33-13827)

3.2            By-Laws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 of
               the Company's Form S-8 registration statement, File No. 33-13827)

4.1            Restricted Stock Plan

23.1           Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent accountants

24.1           Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Form S-8)

                                       7