As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 1997
                           Registration No. 333-25301


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                 POST EFFECTIVE
                               AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           CPS AUTO RECEIVABLES TRUSTS
                           (Issuer of the Securities)

                        CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.
                   (Originator of the Trust described herein)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


             California                                 33-0459135
   (State or Other Jurisdiction of                     (IRS Employer
   Incorporation or Organization)                 Identification Number)


                                      2 Ada
                            Irvine, California 92618
                                 (714) 753-6800
                        (Address, including zip code, and
                     telephone number, including area code,
                       of registrant's principal executive
                                    offices)

                             Charles E. Bradley, Jr.
                        Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.
                                      2 Ada
                            Irvine, California 92618
                                 (714) 753-6800
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)


                                    Copy to:


                             Laura A. DeFelice, Esq.
                              MAYER, BROWN & PLATT
                                  1675 Broadway
                            New York, New York 10019
                                 (212) 506-2500


                       Approximate date of commencement of
                          proposed sale to the public:


         From time to time on or after the effective  date of this  registration
statement, as determined by market conditions.


         If the only securities  being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]


         If any of the  securities  being  registered  on  this  Form  are to be
offered  on a  delayed  or  continuous  basis  pursuant  to Rule 415  under  the
Securities Act of 1933,  other than  securities  offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [x]


         If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule  462(b)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  please  check the
following box and list the Securities Act  registration  statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]


         If this  Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed  pursuant  to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box and list
the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number of the  earlier  effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]


         If delivery of the  prospectus  is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. [ ]

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities to Amount to be Proposed maximum Proposed maximum Amount of be registered registered offering price per certificate* aggregate offering price* registration fee Asset Backed Notes, Class A $750,000,000 100% $750,000,000 $227,272.73** * Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. ** $227,272.73 of which has been previously paid as follows: $344.83 was paid on April 16, 1997, $222,770.41 was paid on July 11, 1997 and $4,199.29 was paid as described in the following sentence. The amount of securities being carried forward from Registration Statement No. 333-26355 pursuant to Rule 429 is $13,857,654.82, and the Registrant previously paid a filing fee with respect to such securities of $4,199.29 (calculated at the rate of 1/33 of 1% of the amount of securities being registered, the rate in effect at the time such Registration Statement was filed).
INTRODUCTORY NOTE This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 is being filed to incorporate the trustee's Statement of Eligibility into the Registration Statement as Exhibit 25 thereto. PART II Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution Registration Fee................................................$ 227,272,73 Printing and Engraving................................................40,000.00 Legal Fees and Expenses..............................................150,000.00 Accountants' Fees and Expenses........................................20,000.00 Rating Agency Fees....................................................50,000.00 Miscellaneous Fees.................................................. 10,000.00 Total...............................................................$497,272.73 Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers Indemnification. Under the laws which govern the organization of the registrant, the registrant has the power and in some instances may be required to provide an agent, including an officer or director, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to certain proceedings, with indemnification against certain expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such person's status as an agent of Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc., if that person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of that person was unlawful. Article IV of the Articles of Incorporation and Section 2 of Article VI of the Amended and Restated By-Laws of Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. provides that all officers and directors of the corporation shall be indemnified by the corporation from and against all expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such person's status as an agent of Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc., if that person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of that person was unlawful. The form of the Underwriting Agreement, to be filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement, will provide that Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. will indemnify and reimburse the underwriter(s) and each controlling person of the underwriter with respect to certain expenses and liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act or other federal or state regulations or under the common law, which arise out of or are based on certain material misstatements or omissions in the Registration Statement. In addition, the Underwriting Agreement will provide that the underwriter(s) will similarly indemnify and reimburse Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. with respect to certain material misstatements or omissions in the Registration Statement which are based on certain written information furnished by the underwriter(s) for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement. Insurance. As permitted under the laws which govern the organization of the registrant, the registrant's Amended and Restated By-Laws permit the board of directors to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the registrant's agents, including its officers and directors, against any liability asserted against them in such capacity or arising out of such agents' status as such, whether or not the registrant would have the power to indemnify them against such liability under applicable law. II-1 Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statements (a) Exhibits 1.1 -- Form of Underwriting Agreement.* 4.1 -- Form of Trust Agreement, and certain other related agreements as Exhibits thereto.* 4.2 -- Form of Indenture, and certain other related agreement as Exhibits thereto.* 5.1 -- Opinion of Mayer, Brown & Platt with respect to legality.* 8.1 -- Opinion of Mayer, Brown & Platt with respect to tax matters.* 8.2 -- Opinion of Mayer, Brown & Platt with respect to tax matters regarding CPS Receivables Trust 1997-3.* 10.1 -- Form of Sale and Servicing Agreement, and certain other related agreements as Exhibits thereto.* 10.2 -- Form of Purchase Agreement.* 10.3 -- Form of Samco Purchase Agreement.* 23.1 -- Consent of Mayer, Brown & Platt (included in its opinions filed as Exhibit 5.1, Exhibit 8.1 and Exhibit 8.2).* 24.1 -- Powers of Attorney.* 25.1 -- Trustee's Statement of Eligibility (b) Financial Statements All financial statements, schedules and historical financial information have been omitted as they are not applicable. * Previously filed. II-2 Item 17. Undertakings A. Undertaking pursuant to Rule 415 The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows: (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (1) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (2) to reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or 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; (3) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change of such information in the Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply if the information required to be included in the post-effective amendment is contained in periodic reports filed by the Issuer pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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. (c) 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. Undertaking pursuant to Rule 415 (a) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective. (b) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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. Undertaking in respect of indemnification Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Securities Act and is, therefore, 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 questions whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in such Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. II-3 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the capacities indicated. CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC., as sponsor and manager of the Trust (Registrant) By: /s/ Jeffrey P. Fritz Name: Jeffrey P. Fritz Title: Senior Vice President II-4 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement has been signed on August 22, 1997 by the following persons in the capacities indicated. Signatures Title * ------------------------------- Charles E. Bradley, Sr. Director /s/ Charles E. Bradley, Jr. Charles E. Bradley, Jr. President and Director * ------------------------------- William B. Roberts Director * ------------------------------- John G. Poole Director * ------------------------------- Thomas L. Chrystie Director * ------------------------------- Robert A. Simms Director /s/ Jeffrey P. Fritz ------------------------------- Jeffrey P. Fritz Chief Financial Officer and Secretary *By: /s/ Jeffrey P. Fritz ------------------------------- Jeffrey P. Fritz as attorney-in-fact EXHIBIT INDEX 1.1 -- Form of Underwriting Agreement.* 4.1 -- Form of Trust Agreement, and certain other related agreements as Exhibits thereto.* 4.2 -- Form of Indenture, and certain other related agreements as Exhibits thereto.* 5.1 -- Opinion of Mayer, Brown & Platt with respect to legality.* 8.1 -- Opinion of Mayer, Brown & Platt with respect to tax matters.* 8.2 -- Opinion of Mayer, Brown & Platt with respect to tax matters regarding CPS Receivables Trust 1997-3.* 10.1 -- Form of Sale and Servicing Agreement, and certain other related agreements in Exhibits thereto.* 10.2 -- Form of Receivables Purchase Agreement.* 10.3 -- Form of Samco Purchase Agreement.* 23.1 -- Consent of Mayer, Brown & Platt (included in its opinions filed as Exhibit 5.1, Exhibit 8.1 and Exhibit 8.2).* 24.1 -- Powers of Attorney.* 25.1 -- Trustee's Statement of Eligibility. * Previously filed. II-6


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM T-1

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                   UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
                    CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE


  [x] CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT
                              TO SECTION 305(b) (2)

                  NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

A U.S. National Banking Association                        41-1592157
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or                          (I.R.S.Employer
organization if not a U.S. national                        Identification No.)
bank)

Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota                                      55479
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip code)

                       Stanley S. Stroup, General Counsel
                  NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                        Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue
                          Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479
                                 (612) 667-1234
            (Name, address and telephone number of Agent for Service)


                        CPS Auto Receivables Trust 1997-3
               (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware                                                    Applied For
(State or other jurisdiction of                             (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

c/o Bankers Trust Company (Delaware)
Attn: Corporate Trust Services - Asset Backed Administration

1011 Centre Road
Suite 200
Wilmington, DE                                              19805-1266
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip code)


                        CPS Auto Receivables Trust 1997-3
                          Asset-Backed Notes, Class A-1
                          Asset-Backed Notes, Class A-2
                       (Title of the indenture securities)








Item 1.  General  Information.  Furnish  the  following  information  as to  the
         trustee:

                  (a)      Name and  address of each  examining  or  supervising
                           authority to which it is subject.

                           Comptroller of the Currency
                           Treasury Department
                           Washington, D.C.

                           Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
                           Washington, D.C.

                           The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
                           Washington, D.C.

                  (b)      Whether it is authorized to exercise  corporate trust
                           powers.

                           The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust
                           powers.

Item 2.  Affiliations  with  Obligor.  If the  obligor  is an  affiliate  of the
         trustee, describe each such affiliation.

                  None with respect to the trustee.

No responses  are included for Items 3-14 of this Form T-1,  pursuant to General
Instruction B, because the obligor is not in default as provided under Item 13.

Item 15.  Foreign Trustee.          Not applicable.

Item 16.  List of Exhibits          List below all  exhibits  filed as a part of
                                    this Statement of Eligibility.

         Exhibit 1.        a.       A copy of the Articles of Association of the
                                    trustee now in effect.*

         Exhibit 2.        a.       A copy of the  certificate  of  authority of
                                    the trustee to commence business issued June
                                    28, 1872, by the Comptroller of the Currency
                                    to  The   Northwestern   National   Bank  of
                                    Minneapolis.*

                           b.       A copy of the certificate of the Comptroller
                                    of  the  Currency  dated  January  2,  1934,
                                    approving   the    consolidation    of   The
                                    Northwestern  National  Bank of  Minneapolis
                                    and The Minnesota  Loan and Trust Company of
                                    Minneapolis, with the surviving entity being
                                    titled Northwestern  National Bank and Trust
                                    Company of Minneapolis.*

                           c.       A copy  of  the  certificate  of the  Acting
                                    Comptroller  of the Currency  dated  January
                                    12, 1943, as to change of corporate title of
                                    Northwestern National Bank and Trust Company
                                    of Minneapolis to Northwestern National Bank
                                    of Minneapolis.*

                           d.       A copy of the letter dated May 12, 1983 from
                                    the  Regional  Counsel,  Comptroller  of the
                                    Currency, acknowledging receipt of notice of
                                    name  change  effective  May  1,  1983  from
                                    Northwestern National Bank of Minneapolis to
                                    Norwest    Bank    Minneapolis,     National
                                    Association.*

                           e.       A copy of the letter  dated  January 4, 1988
                                    from the Administrator of National Banks for
                                    the  Comptroller of the Currency  certifying
                                    approval   of   consolidation   and   merger
                                    effective  January 1, 1988 of  Norwest  Bank
                                    Minneapolis,   National   Association   with
                                    various  other  banks  under  the  title  of
                                    "Norwest    Bank     Minnesota,     National
                                    Association."*


                                   - Page 2 -





         Exhibit 3.        A  copy  of  the  authorization  of  the  trustee  to
                           exercise  corporate  trust powers  issued  January 2,
                           1934, by the Federal Reserve Board.*

         Exhibit 4.        Copy of By-laws of the trustee as now in effect.*

         Exhibit 5.        Not applicable.

         Exhibit 6.        The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b)
                           of the Act.

         Exhibit 7.        Consolidated  Reports of Condition  and Income of the
                           trustee as of June 30, 1997.  (P)

         Exhibit 8.        Not applicable.

         Exhibit 9.        Not applicable.




























         *        Incorporated  by  reference  to  the  corresponding   numbered
                  exhibits  to the form T-1 filed as Exhibit 25 to  registration
                  statement number 33-66026.


                                   - Page 3 -













                                    SIGNATURE



Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the
trustee,  Norwest  Bank  Minnesota,  National  Association,  a national  banking
association  organized  and  existing  under  the laws of the  United  States of
America,  has duly  caused this  statement  of  eligibility  to be signed on its
behalf  by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly  authorized,  all in the  City  of
Minneapolis and State of Minnesota on the 20th day of August, 1997.





                                            NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA,
                                            NATIONAL ASSOCIATION



                                            /s/Shana Stephens-Murray
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Name: Shana Stephens-Murray
                                            Title: Corporate Trust Officer













                                    EXHIBIT 6




August 20, 1997




Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

In  accordance  with  Section  321(b) of the  Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939,  as
amended,  the  undersigned  hereby  consents that reports of  examination of the
undersigned  made  by  Federal,  State,  Territorial,  or  District  authorities
authorized to make such  examination may be furnished by such authorities to the
Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.




                                            Very truly yours,

                                            NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA,
                                            NATIONAL ASSOCIATION



                                            /s/Shana Stephens-Murray
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Name: Shana Stephens-Murray
                                            Title: Corporate Trust Officer