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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003

OR

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 1-9511

THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

(408) 782-6686

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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 þ    NO ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of 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. þ

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes ¨    No þ

The aggregate market value of the outstanding shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of Registrant as of June 30, 2003, which was determined on the basis of the closing price of Registrant’s shares on that date, was approximately $12,068,000.

As of March 12, 2004, a total of 4,548,098 shares of Registrant’s Common Stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Except as otherwise stated therein, Part III of the Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting which is expected to be filed on or before April 30, 2004.

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003

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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements contained in this Report that are not historical facts or that discuss our expectations or beliefs regarding our future operations or future financial performance, or financial or other trends in our business, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Often, they include the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” Forward-looking statements are based on current information and the expectations or beliefs expressed in those statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our financial condition or operating results in the future to differ significantly from those set forth in those statements. Some of those risks and uncertainties are described in Part II of this Report in the Section entitled “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — Certain Factors That Could Affect Future Performance” and readers of this Report are urged to read the cautionary statements contained in that Section of this Report.

Due to these uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this Report, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

GENERAL

The Coast Distribution System, Inc. is, we believe, one of the largest wholesale suppliers of replacement parts, supplies and accessories for recreational vehicles (“RVs”), and boats in North America. We supply more than 25,000 products and serve more than 15,000 customers throughout the United States and Canada, from 13 regional distribution centers in the United States that are located in California, Texas, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, Georgia, Florida and Wisconsin and 4 regional distribution centers in Canada located, respectively, in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. Reference is made to Note H to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, contained elsewhere in this Report, for certain information regarding the respective operating results of the Company’s operations in the United States and Canada. Our customers are comprised primarily of RV and boat dealers and RV and boating parts supply stores and service centers (“After-Market Customers”), who resell the products they purchase from us, at retail, to consumers that own or use RVs and boats.

We have introduced into the marketplace a number of products that have been designed specifically for us by independent product design firms and are manufactured for us, generally on an exclusive basis, by a number of different independent manufacturers (which we will refer to in this report as “proprietary products”). The proprietary products are marketed by us under our own brand-names in competition with brand name products from traditional suppliers of RV and boating parts, supplies and accessories. We are able to obtain the proprietary products at prices that generally are below those we would have to pay for functionally equivalent brand name products. For additional information regarding our proprietary products, see the Section of this Part I of this Report entitled “PRODUCTS— Proprietary Products.”

In late 2000 we began the implementation of a new inventory management and deployment program. This program was designed to enable us to place fewer, but larger, orders with our suppliers and thereby consolidate product shipments and improve the responsiveness of service to our customers by, among other things, enabling us to fill a greater percentage of their orders from those of our warehouses closest to the location of the customer. During the implementation phase of this program, our operating costs did increase and service levels did suffer. However, this program enabled us, beginning in fiscal 2002, to increase our gross margins through vendor price concessions and freight reimbursements, to reduce our operating expenses and, at the same time, to improve the level and responsiveness of service that we are able to provide our customers. See “Business — Distribution” in this Part I, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, of this Report.

We utilize a computer-based order entry and warehousing system which enables customers to transmit orders either telephonically or electronically to us, and enables us to prepare and invoice most orders within 24 hours of receipt. We also have established a national customer service center to enable customers to obtain product information

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and place orders by telephone using Company toll-free telephone numbers. We believe that the breadth of our product lines, the proprietary products we are able to offer to our customers, the computer integration of our operations, and our inventory management and deployment program distinguishes us from other distributors and suppliers of RV and boating parts, supplies and accessories with which we compete.

The Coast Distribution System, Inc. was incorporated in California in June 1977, and reincorporated in Delaware in April 1998. For convenience, we will refer to The Coast Distribution System in this Report as “we” or “us” or the “Company.”

THE PARTS, SUPPLIES AND ACCESSORIES AFTER-MARKETS

Many manufacturers of RV and boating replacement parts, supplies and accessories rely on independent distributors, such as the Company, to market and distribute their products or to augment their own product distribution operations. Distributors relieve manufacturers of a portion of the costs associated with distribution of their products while providing geographically dispersed selling, order processing and delivery capabilities. At the same time, distributors offer retailers access to a broad line of products and the convenience of rapid delivery of orders.

The market for RV parts, supplies and accessories distributed by the Company includes both RV dealers and RV supply stores and service centers. The products that we sell include optional equipment and accessories, such as trailer hitches, air conditioning units, water heaters and other accessories, and replacement and repair parts and maintenance supplies.

The market for boating parts, supplies and accessories is comprised primarily of independent boat dealers that sell boats and boating parts, supplies and accessories at retail. Independent boat dealers purchase primarily replacement parts, boating supplies and smaller accessories from the Company. See “Products” below.

PRODUCTS

General. We carry a full line of more than 15,000 recreational vehicle parts, supplies and accessories which we purchase from more than 500 manufacturers. RV products distributed by the Company include antennae, vents, electrical items, towing equipment and hitches, appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, ranges and generators, LP gas equipment, portable toilets and plumbing parts, hardware and tools, specialized recreational vehicle housewares, chemicals and supplies, and various accessories, such as ladders, jacks, fans, load stabilizers, mirrors and compressors.

We carry a line of approximately 10,000 boating and marine products that we distribute. Those products include boat covers, stainless steel hardware, depth sounders, anchors, life jackets and other marine safety equipment and fishing equipment.

Proprietary Products. We have introduced into the RV and boating aftermarkets a number of proprietary products, which are manufactured specifically for us, generally on an exclusive basis, by a number of different independent manufacturers. The proprietary products, which are designed for us by independent professional product design firms or by the independent manufacturers that we have retained to manufacture the products for us, include trailer hitches, plastic wastewater tanks, vent lids and stabilizing jacks. We market these proprietary products under our own brand-names in competition with brand name products from traditional suppliers, which usually sell their products to a number of distributors and into other markets. However, some of our proprietary products currently lack the same name brand recognition as the competitive products manufactured by traditional suppliers, which may have a limiting effect on unit sales of and on the prices that we are able to charge for our proprietary products. It also means that the costs of marketing the proprietary products generally is greater than for brand-name products, which somewhat offsets the margin advantage we gain on sales of our proprietary products.

MARKETING, SALES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

Our Customers. Our customers include (i) RV dealers, which primarily purchase optional equipment and accessories for new recreational vehicles and replacement and repair parts for their service departments, (ii) independent RV supply stores and service centers that purchase parts, supplies and accessories for resale to owners of RVs and for their service centers, and (iii) independent boat dealers that purchase small accessories for new boats and replacement parts and boating supplies for resale to boat owners and operators. We are not dependent on any single customer for any material portion of our business and no single customer accounted for as much as 5% of our sales in 2003, 2002 or 2001.

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Our Customer Service Center and Computerized Order Entry and Warehousing System. We have designed and implemented a computer-based order entry and warehousing system which enables our customers to transmit orders electronically to our central computers and also enables us, subject to product availability, to prepare and invoice most customer orders within 24 hours of receipt.

We also operate a customer sales and service center through which our customers can obtain product information and place orders by telephone using our toll-free telephone numbers. With the exception of holidays, our customer sales and service center is operational for a total of 13 hours per day, Monday through Friday and is staffed by sales personnel who are trained to promote the sale of our products and to handle customer service issues. Currently, the number of customer calls handled by our national customer sales and service center, which can be accessed by virtually all of the Company’s customers in the United States and Canada, ranges from 2,000 to 6,000 per day and the customer service center has enabled us to improve customer service and at the same time reduce our selling expenses.

Orders transmitted from customers either electronically, or by telephone to the national customer sales and service center, are input into our IBM AS 400 computer and then are relayed to the regional distribution center selected by the customer, where the products are selected, packed and shipped. At the time the order is received, the customer is informed, either by electronic confirmation, or by the sales person handling the customer’s call at the customer service center, that the order has been accepted and whether any items are not currently in stock (that is, on “back-order”). In addition, we offer to participating customers a “split shipment program” by which a customer’s order for a product that is not available from the Company’s distribution center closest to the customer will be shipped to that customer from another of the Company’s distribution centers when that product is available at that back-up distribution center. One of the objectives of our new inventory management and deployment program is to improve our ability to fulfill customer orders from the distribution centers closest to the customer and thereby to improve the responsiveness, and reduce the costs, of service to the customer (see “Distribution” below).

DISTRIBUTION

General. Our regional distribution and warehouse centers in North America carry inventory of up to approximately 15,000 RV parts, supplies and accessories. In addition, our distribution centers stock, in varying quantities, up to approximately 10,000 boating and marine parts, supplies and accessories.

We rely primarily on independent freight companies to ship our products to our customers.

Inventory Management and Deployment Program. We have developed and implemented an inventory management and deployment program that is designed to enable us to place fewer, but larger, orders with our suppliers and thereby consolidate product shipments, and to provide greater flexibility to meet changing customer demands, with the overall objectives of improving service levels to our customers, improving our gross margins, and reducing freight costs and other costs of operations. The development and implementation of this program did cause some initial disruptions in our operations and increases in our costs. However, now that implementation of this program is complete, we believe that the program has enabled us to improve our service levels and produce greater efficiencies and costs savings in our operations. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS” in Part II of this Report.

ARRANGEMENTS WITH MANUFACTURERS

General. The products we distribute are purchased from more than 500 different manufacturers. As is typical in the industry, in most instances we acquire those products on a purchase order basis and we have no guaranteed price or delivery agreements with manufacturers, including the manufacturers that produce proprietary products for us. As a result, short-term inventory shortages can occur. We sometimes choose to carry only a single manufacturer’s products for certain of the brand-name product lines that we sell, although comparable products usually are available from more than one source. In addition, we obtain each of our proprietary products from a single source manufacturer, although in most instances we own the tooling required for their manufacture.

Dependence on a single manufacturer for any product or line of related products, however, presents some risks, including the inability to readily obtain alternative product supply sources in the event that a single source supplier

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(i) encounters quality or other production problems, (ii) decides to enter into an exclusive supply arrangement or alliance with a competing distributor, or (iii) decides to vertically integrate its operations to include not only manufacturing, but also distribution, of its products. Termination of a single source supply relationship could adversely affect our sales and operating income, possibly to a significant extent.

None of the manufacturers or suppliers from which we obtain products accounted for more than 5% of our product purchases in 2003, 2002 or 2001, except Airxcel, Inc., which supplies us with our requirements for RV air conditioners, sold under the Coleman^® brand name, under a multi-year product supply agreement. In the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001, the products supplied by Airxcel accounted for approximately 11%, 11% and 12%, respectively, of the Company’s net sales in those years.

Manufacturers generally warrant the products that we distribute, including our proprietary products, and allow us to return defective products, including those that have been returned to us by our customers. We do not independently warrant the products that we distribute, including the proprietary products that we sell.

COMPETITION

The Company faces significant competition. There are a number of national and regional distributors of RV and boating parts, supplies and accessories that compete with the Company. There also are mass merchandisers, catalog houses and national and regional retail chains specializing in the sale of RV or boating parts, supplies and accessories that purchase such products directly from manufacturers. The mass merchandisers and national and regional chains compete directly with the RV and boating supply stores and service centers that purchase products from us. This competition affects both the volume of our sales, and the prices we are able to charge for the products we sell, to RV and boating supply stores. Additionally, there is no assurance that changes in supply relationships or new alliances within the RV or boating products industry will not occur that would further increase competition. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – Certain Factors That Could Affect Future Performance” in Part II of this Report.

Like most of our competitors, we compete on the basis of the quality, speed and reliability of our service, the breadth of our product lines and price. We believe that we are highly competitive in each of those areas.

EMPLOYEES

At December 31, 2003, we had approximately 400 full-time employees, which includes employees in Canada. During the peak summer months, we also employ part-time workers at our regional distribution centers. None of our employees is represented by a labor union and we believe that we have good relations with our employees.

COMPANY WEBSITE

Our internet website address is wwwcoastdistribution.com. Our Annual Report to Stockholders, quarterly reports to stockholders for the first three quarters of each year, and the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available on our website.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

We operate 13 regional distribution centers in 12 states in the United States, and 4 regional distribution centers, each located in a different Province, in Canada. All of the facilities at which those distribution centers are located are leased under triple net leases which require us to pay, in addition to rent, real property taxes, insurance and maintenance costs.

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The following table sets forth certain information regarding those facilities.

The Company’s executive offices are located in Morgan Hill, California, a suburb of San Jose, California where it leases 26,000 square feet of office space. The Company’s address is 350 Woodview Avenue, Morgan Hill, California 95037 and its telephone number at that location is (408) 782-6686.

The Company also leases 1,500 square feet of office space in Seattle, Washington and 2,000 square feet in Anchorage, Alaska where the Company maintains sales offices.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company from time to time is named as a defendant, sometimes along with product manufacturers and others, in product liability and personal injury litigation. We believe that this type of litigation is incident to our operations, and since we have insurance, and in many instances also have obtained indemnification agreements from manufacturers, covering any potential liability, we believe that such litigation will not have a material adverse affect on our business, operating results, financial condition or cash flow.

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

None.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF REGISTRANT

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Set forth below is certain information regarding the Company’s executive officers.

THOMAS R. MCGUIRE. Mr. McGuire is a founder of the Company and has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since the Company’s inception.

SANDRA A. KNELL. Mrs. Knell has been the Company’s Executive Vice President — Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since August 1985. From 1984 until she joined the Company, Mrs. Knell was an Audit Manager, and for the prior four years was a senior and staff accountant, with Grant Thornton LLP. Mrs. Knell is a Certified Public Accountant.

DAVID A. BERGER. Mr. Berger has served as Executive Vice President — Marketing since May 1988. From August 1986 to May 1988, Mr. Berger was Senior Vice President Purchasing of the Company. For the prior 14 years he held various management positions with C/P Products Corp., a distributor of recreational vehicle parts and accessories that was acquired by the Company in 1985.

DENNIS A. CASTAGNOLA. Mr. Castagnola was appointed to his current position of Executive Vice President —Sales in November 2000. From May 1994 through November 2000, he served as Senior Vice President — Proprietary Products, where he directed the Company’s proprietary products program. For the prior 19 years, he held various positions with the Company, including Vice President/Division Manager of the Company’s Portland, Oregon Distribution Center.

PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS

The Company’s shares of common stock are listed and trade on the American Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “CRV.”

The following table sets forth for the calendar quarters indicated the range of the high and low sales prices per share of the Company’s common stock on the American Stock Exchange.

On March 11, 2004 the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on the American Stock Exchange was $6.72 and there were approximately 900 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.

DIVIDEND POLICY

In March 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a $0.06 per share cash dividend that is to be paid on April 23, 2004 to stockholders of record as of April 9, 2004. A cash dividend of $0.06 per share also was paid to the Company’s stockholders in April 2003. Whether or not dividends will be paid in the future will depend on a number of factors, the most important of which are the earnings we are able to generate, cash flow from operations and the cash requirements of our business. Additionally, the payment of dividends in the future will require the prior approval of the Company’s bank lender. Consequently, there is no assurance that we will pay dividends in the future.

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ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected consolidated operating data set forth below for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2003 and 2002, are derived from the Company’s audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Report and should be read in conjunction with those financial statements. The selected consolidated operating data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, are derived from audited financial statements which are not included in this Report.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND USE OF ESTIMATES

General

In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), we record most of our assets at the lower of cost or fair value. In determining the fair value of some of our assets, principally accounts receivable, inventories and deferred income taxes, we must make judgments, estimates and assumptions regarding future events and circumstances that could affect the value of those assets, such as future economic conditions that will affect our ability to collect our accounts receivable or sell our inventories. Those judgments, estimates and assumptions are based on current information available to us at the time they are made. Many of those events and circumstances, however, are outside of our control and if changes in those events or circumstances subsequently occur, GAAP will require us to adjust the earlier estimates that are affected by those changes. Any resulting downward adjustments to our prior estimates of fair value are commonly referred to as “write-downs” of assets involved.

It is our practice to establish reserves or allowances against which we are able to charge any such downward adjustments or “write-downs” in fair value of such assets. Examples include reserves or allowances established for uncollectible accounts receivable (sometimes referred to as “bad debt reserves”) and reserves for inventory obsolescence. The amounts at which those reserves are established and maintained are based on historical experience and also on our assumptions and judgments about future circumstances, business trends and market and economic conditions. Those reserves are periodically increased to replenish the reserve following write-downs of uncollectible accounts or to take account of increased risks due to changes in circumstances, business trends or economic conditions. Those increases are effectuated by charges to income or increases in expense in our statement of operations in the periods when those reserves or allowances are increased. As a result, our judgments, estimates and assumptions about future events can and will affect not only the amounts at which we record these assets on our balance sheet, but also our results of operations.

Under GAAP, most businesses also must make estimates or judgments regarding the periods during which sales are recorded and also the amounts at which they are recorded. Those estimates and judgments will depend on such factors as the steps or actions that a business must take to complete a sale of products to or to perform services for a customer and the circumstances under which a customer would be entitled to return the products or reject or adjust the payment for the services rendered to it. Additionally, in the case of a company that grants its customers contractual rights to return products sold to them, GAAP requires that the company establish a reserve or allowance for product returns by means of a reduction in the amount at which its sales are recorded primarily based on the nature, extensiveness and duration of those rights and its historical return experience.

In making our estimates and assumptions we follow GAAP and accounting practices applicable to our business that we believe will enable us to make fair and consistent estimates of the fair value of those assets and to establish adequate reserves or allowances. See “Consolidated Financial Statements — Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants” in Item 8 of this Report.

Critical Accounting Policies

Set forth below is a summary of the accounting policies that we believe are material to an understanding of our financial condition and results of operations that are discussed below.

Revenue Recognition and the Allowance for Product Returns. We recognize revenue from the sale of a product upon its shipment to the customer. We provide our customers with limited rights of return. We establish an allowance for potential returns that reduces the amounts of our reported sales. We estimate the allowance based on historical experience with returns of like products and current economic and market conditions, which can affect the level at which customers submit product returns.

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Accounts Receivable and the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. In the normal course of our business we extend 30 day payment terms to our customers and, due to the seasonality of our business, during late fall and winter we grant extended payment terms to those of our customers that have good credit records. We regularly review our customers’ accounts and estimate the amount of and establish an allowance for uncollectible amounts or receivables in each reporting period. The amount of the allowance is based on several factors, including the age of unpaid amounts, a review of significant past due accounts, and current economic trends and trends in our markets, which affect the ability of customers to keep their accounts current. Estimates of uncollectible amounts are reviewed periodically to determine if the allowance should be increased, and any increases are recorded in the accounting period in which the events that require such increases become known. For example, if the financial condition of customers or economic or market conditions were to deteriorate, adversely affecting the ability of customers to make payments, increases in the allowance may be required. Since the allowance is created by recording a charge which is included in, and therefore has the effect of increasing, selling, general and administrative expenses, an increase in the allowance will reduce income in the period when the increase is recorded.

Reserve for Excess, Slow-Moving and Obsolete Inventory. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value and are reduced by an allowance for excess and slowing-moving or obsolete inventories. The amount of the allowance is determined on the basis of historical experience with different product lines, estimates concerning future economic and market conditions and estimates of future sales. If there is an economic downturn or a decline in sales, causing inventories of some product lines to accumulate, it may become necessary to increase the allowance. Other factors that can require increases in the allowance or inventory write downs are reductions in pricing or introduction of new or competitive products by manufacturers; however, due to the relative maturity of the markets in which the Company operates, usually these are not significant factors. Increases in this allowance also will cause a decline in operating results as such increases are effectuated by charges against income.

Allowance for Deferred Income Taxes. We record as a “deferred tax asset” on our balance sheet tax loss and tax credit carryforwards and tax deductions that can be applied in future periods to offset or reduce our future income tax liability. At December 31, 2003 the aggregate amount of that deferred tax asset was approximately $2.6 million. Under applicable federal and state income tax laws and regulations, tax loss and tax credit carryforwards and tax deductions will expire if not used within specified periods of time. Accordingly, the ability to use this deferred tax asset depends on our generating taxable income during those time periods. Under GAAP the amount that we are permitted to record, as a deferred tax asset, is the amount of available tax loss and tax credit carryforwards that we believe we will be able to utilize prior to their expiration based on an estimate of our future taxable income. In estimating future taxable income, we consider current operating and economic and market trends as they may affect the amounts and timing of future taxable income that we currently believe we can generate during the periods remaining prior to the expiration of the tax loss and tax credit carryforwards that are available to offset future income tax liability. If that estimate indicates that it we are not likely to be able to fully utilize the available tax loss and tax credit carryforwards, we would establish a valuation allowance that would be applied as a reduction of the gross amount of that deferred tax asset. Currently available evidence leads us to believe that it is more likely than not that we will be able to utilize the net deferred tax asset that is recorded in our financial statements. However, if due to future events or circumstances, such as an economic downturn that might adversely affect our operating results, we subsequently come to a different conclusion regarding our future taxable income and, hence, our ability to fully utilize this asset, we would increase the allowance and thereby reduce the amount at which we record the deferred tax asset. That reduction would be effectuated by an increase in the provision (or a reduction in the credit) for income taxes in our statement of operations, which would have the effect of causing a decline in our operating results.

Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill. Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and goodwill and intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable. Prior to fiscal 2002, in accordance with GAAP, we used estimated undiscounted future cash flows to determine if such an asset was impaired and would reduce its carrying value, by recording a charge against income, in the event that we determined that an impairment had occurred to the value of the asset. For fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2002, we are required to assess our goodwill for impairment, at least annually (or more frequently if circumstances indicate potential impairment), based on standards established by SFAS No. 142, by comparing the fair value of goodwill to its carrying amount.

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During fiscal 2002, we completed a transitional impairment test as required by SFAS No. 142 with respect to our intangible assets, including goodwill. Based on that test, we determined that goodwill had been impaired by $6.3 million. As a result, in accordance with SFAS No. 142, we recorded, in our statement of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, a non-cash goodwill impairment charge in that amount as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. See the paragraph entitled “Intangible Assets” in Note A to our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this Report for additional information regarding SFAS 142.

Foreign Currency Translation. The financial position and results of operations of our foreign subsidiaries are measured using local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of each foreign subsidiary are translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange in effect at the end of each reporting period. Revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for the reporting period. Foreign currency translation gains and losses not impacting cash flows are credited to or charged against other comprehensive income (loss). Foreign currency translation gains and losses arising from cash transactions are credited to or charged against current earnings.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Factors Generally Affecting Sales of RV and Boating Products

We believe that the Company is one the largest wholesale distributors of replacement parts, accessories and supplies for recreational vehicles (“RVs”), and boats in North America. Our sales are made to retail parts and supplies stores, service and repair establishments and new and used RV and boat dealers (“After-Market Customers”). Our sales are affected primarily by (i) usage of RVs and boats by the consumers to whom After-Market Customers sell our products, because such usage affects the consumers’ needs for and purchases of replacement parts, repair services and supplies, and (ii) sales of new RVs and boats, because consumers often “accessorize” their RVs and boats at the time of purchase.

The usage and the purchase, by consumers, of RVs and boats depend, in large measure, upon the extent of discretionary income available to consumers and their confidence about economic conditions. As a result, recessionary conditions and increases in interest rates often lead to declines in the purchase and, to a lesser extent, in the usage, of RVs and boats. Weather conditions also affect the usage of RVs and boats. Additionally, shortages in the supply of gasoline and, depending on other economic conditions, increases in the prices of gasoline, also can lead to declines in the usage and purchases of RVs and boats. On the other hand we have found, at least since September 11, 2001, that usage and purchases of RVs also can be affected by geopolitical conditions. The events of September 11, 2001 appear to have resulted in a decrease both in international travel and in plane travel and a concomitant increase in the usage of RVs. As a result, our sales and operating results can be, and in the past have been, affected by recessionary economic conditions, increases in interest rates, shortages in the supply and increases in the prices of gasoline, and unusually adverse weather conditions and geopolitical events, as well.

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Overview of Fiscal 2003 Operating Results

As the above table indicates, in 2003 operating income more than doubled, and earnings (before the cumulative effect of an accounting change for goodwill impairment in 2002 ) increased by 125.1%, in each case as compared to 2002. Those improvements were primarily attributable to increases in net sales and improvements in our gross profit margin and a reduction in interest expense, which more than offset an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses in 2003.

As previously reported, we adopted SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Intangible Assets” effective as of January 1, 2002. We determined the amount of the non-cash goodwill impairment charge to be $6,325,000, or $1.44 per share. As a result of that charge, which was reported as the cumulative effect of an accounting change, we had a net loss of $5,238,000, or a $1.19 loss per diluted share, in 2002. This goodwill impairment charge did not affect the Company’s tangible net worth or cash flow.

We restated our previously issued 2002 and 2001 consolidated financial statements to reflect adjustments related to the recording of deferred income taxes on transfers of assets within companies in our consolidated group of companies. Those adjustments were erroneously not made in those two years. The effect of that restatement was to adjust, in an immaterial amount, our results of operations, as set forth in the table below:

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Net Sales.

The increases in net sales in 2003 and 2002, as compared to the corresponding periods of their respective prior years, were due to a number of factors, including (i) relatively stable consumer confidence despite a weakened economy, which we believe is at least partially attributable to low market rates of interest, (ii) security concerns about foreign travel and travel by air which have, we believe, led to an increase in the usage and purchases of RVs, and (iii) our progress in implementing our inventory management and deployment program, which has enabled us to improve our service levels to our customers and, we believe, increase our share of RV After-Market sales.

Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of products sold from net sales. Cost of products sold consist primarily of the amounts paid to manufacturers and suppliers for the products that we purchase for resale, and warehouse and distribution costs, including freight charges. Gross margin is gross profits stated as a percent of net sales.

The increase in our gross margin in 2003, as compared to 2002 was due to (i) a reduction in both freight in and freight out expenses, which was largely a result of the implementation of our inventory management and deployment program, (ii) the continued strengthening of the Canadian dollar, which reduced our Canadian subsidiary’s cost of sales, and (iii) a change in the mix of products sold to a higher proportion of higher margin products in 2003 as compared to 2002.

The increase in gross margin in 2002 was due to (i) an overall reduction in the prices that we paid for products purchased from our suppliers due to volume purchases, (ii) a reduction in freight-in costs, net of supplier allowances, associated with receiving product from our suppliers and redistributing it to our regional distribution centers, (iii) a reduction in warehouse labor costs as a percentage of net sales due to their relatively fixed nature of such costs as compared to our net sales, and (iv) a reduction in shipping costs as a percentage of net sales due to improved fill rates to our customers. These reductions were largely attributable to the completion of the implementation phase of our inventory management and deployment system.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses consist primarily of selling and marketing costs, labor and administrative costs, professional fees and expenses and the provision made for uncollectible accounts. The 7.4% increase in SG&A expenses in 2003, as compared to 2002, was due primarily to increases in labor costs, both selling and administrative, as well as an increase in marketing costs. However, as a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses remained the same in 2003 as in 2002.

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The 7% reduction in SG&A expenses in 2002, as compared to 2001, was due primarily to (i) our cost containment efforts that we began in 2001, including reductions in labor costs that resulted from reductions in both the number of employees and in salaries, (ii) a reduction in marketing and computer expenses and (iii) the elimination of the amortization of goodwill resulting from the implementation of SFAS 142 (which is explained in more detail in Note B to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Report). The decrease in SG&A expenses, as a percentage of net sales in 2002, as compared to 2001, was attributable to the combined effects of the increase in net sales and the dollar reduction in such expenses in 2002.

The majority of our corporate overhead costs are incurred in the United States. Portions of those costs are allocated to our foreign operations to the extent that they directly benefit from the expenses incurred.

The doubling of our operating income in 2003 as compared to 2002 was due to the combined effects of the increase in sales and gross margin, which more than offset the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. The increase in operating income in 2002 was due to the combined effects of the increases in sales and gross margin and the reduction in SG&A expenses. In 2001, the operating loss was attributable to declines in sales and gross margin.

Interest Expense. Interest expense is the largest component of other income (expense). In 2003 interest expense decreased by 12% as compared to 2002. In 2002, interest expense decreased by 37% as compared to 2001. These decreases were the result of reductions in interest rates during 2002 and 2003, and, in 2002, a year over year reduction in average long-term borrowings outstanding that was attributable primarily to inventory reductions that we were able to implement as a result of our new inventory management and deployment system.

Other Income. Other income in 2002 was attributable to the sale, to a manufacturer of RV parts, of manufacturing rights and equipment for and inventories of a line of proprietary products that we had been selling not only to our After-Market Customers, but also to recreational vehicle manufacturers. In 2001, other income was primarily attributable to the sale of the real property where our distribution center in Portland, Oregon was located. Following that sale, that distribution center was relocated, to a leased facility, also in the Portland area.

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Our effective income tax rate is affected by the amount of our expenses that are not deductible for income tax purposes and by varying tax rates on income generated by our foreign subsidiaries. The increase in the income tax provision in 2003 was primarily attributable to the increase in taxable income. The increase in income taxes in 2002 was primarily attributable to the fact that we recorded an income tax benefit in 2001 that was primarily attributable to the loss before income taxes incurred in that year.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Sources and Uses of Cash

We finance our working capital requirements for our operations primarily with borrowings under a long-term revolving credit facility from a bank and internally generated funds. Under the terms of the revolving credit facility, we may borrow up to the lesser of (i) $40,000,000 during the period from March through July, and from $30,000,000 to $35,000,000 during the period from August through February, of each year, or (ii) an amount equal to 80% of eligible accounts receivable and between 50% to 55% of eligible inventory. Interest on the revolving credit facility is payable at the bank’s prime rate plus 0.75% or, at the Company’s option but subject to certain limitations, at the bank’s LIBOR rate, plus 2.5 percent. The bank credit facility matures on May 31, 2005.

At March 12, 2004, outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility totaled $33,000,000. Our bank borrowings are secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets and rank senior in priority to other indebtedness of the Company.

Due to the nature of our business, our primary need for working capital is to finance our accounts receivable and our purchases of inventory. Typically we bill our customers on an open account basis with 2% 10 day, net 30-day terms. During late fall and winter, however, certain of our customers receive extended payment terms. We were able in late 2002 and 2003 to obtain similar extended payment terms from some of our suppliers, which reduced the amounts we had to borrow under our credit facility to make inventory purchases. There is no assurance that we will be able to obtain extended payment terms from our suppliers in the future. If we are unable to do so, we anticipate that it would become necessary either to incur additional borrowings under our credit facility or to extend the payment cycle on outstanding payables, which would adversely affect the discounts we could otherwise obtain from our suppliers. Also, in the event our customers were to delay their payments to us, our payments to our suppliers would have to be funded with additional bank borrowings or would have to be slowed.

We generally use cash for, rather than generate cash from, operations in the first half of the year, because we build inventories, and accounts receivable increase as our customers begin increasing their product purchases for the spring and summer selling seasons. See “Seasonality and Inflation” below.

In an effort to increase our service level to our customers and in anticipation of our annual winter selling show, we increased our inventories by $5,154,000 at December 31, 2003. As a result, in 2003 we used net cash of $1,950,000 for operating activities, as compared to $1,158,000 in 2002 and net cash provided by operations of $3,303,000 in 2001.

During 2002, we generated gross proceeds of $1,152,000 from the sale of manufacturing rights and equipment for one of our lines of proprietary products and we received $262,000 from the sale of an investment we had in an Australian company. During 2001, we received $2,669,000 from the sale of our Portland, Oregon distribution facility, which was relocated to a smaller, leased facility in nearby Wilsonville, Oregon.

Capital expenditures were $640,000 in 2003 as compared to $1,148,000 in 2002 and $324,000 in 2001. These expenditures were primarily for computer enhancements designed to increase the functionality of our computer system, which accounted for a substantial portion of the capital expenditures in 2002, and for the purchase of telephone and warehouse equipment.

Borrowings under our credit facility increased by $677,000 in 2003 and $1,254,000 in 2002 and decreased by $3,809,000 in 2001. The proceeds from the additional credit facility borrowings in 2003 and 2002 were used largely to increase product inventories. In 2001, we also repaid $1,333,000 in other long-term debt, the majority of which was owed on the mortgage of the Portland, Oregon distribution facility that we sold.

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Contractual Commitments

We lease our facilities and certain of our equipment under non-cancelable operating leases. In 2003, rent expense under all operating leases totaled approximately $3,602,000. The following table sets forth our future lease commitments.

We do not expect any material changes in the uses or our needs for capital or in the sources of funds, and we anticipate that we will be able to fund our cash requirements with borrowings under our revolving credit facility and internally generated funds, during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004.

Seasonality and Inflation

Seasonality. Sales of recreational vehicle and boating parts, supplies and accessories are seasonal. We have significantly higher sales during the six-month period from April through September than we do during the remainder of the year. Because substantial portions of our expenses are fixed, operating income declines and we sometimes incur losses and must rely more heavily on borrowings to fund operating requirements in the winter months when sales are lower.

The table below presents unaudited quarterly financial information for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002. We prepared this information on a basis consistent with our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Report. The following information includes all necessary adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, we consider necessary for a fair presentation of the unaudited quarterly operating results when read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Report. These quarterly operating results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected in future periods.

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Inflation. Generally, we have been able to pass inflationary price increases on to our customers. However, inflation also may cause or may be accompanied by increases in gasoline prices and interest rates. Such increases, or even the prospect of increases in the price or shortages in the supply of gasoline or increases in interest rates, can adversely affect the purchase and usage of RVs and boats, which can result in a decline in the demand for the products we sell.

CERTAIN FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT FUTURE PERFORMANCE

Statements contained in this Annual Report that are not historical facts or that discuss our expectations regarding our future operations or future financial performance or trends in our business constitute “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements are estimates of future performance or our future financial condition or financial or market trends that are based upon current information and that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual operating results or our financial performance or condition in future periods to differ significantly from those expected at the current time. Those risks and uncertainties include, although they are not limited to, the following:

Our Business is Seasonal and is Subject to Various Economic and Climatic Influences. Our sales are affected directly by the usage levels and purchases of RVs and boats. The purchase and, in particular, the usage of RVs and boats, are affected by weather conditions. As a result, our sales and operating results ordinarily decline in the winter months and we usually incur losses in these periods of the year. Additionally, unusual weather conditions in a particular season, such as unusually cold weather in the spring or summer months, can cause period to period fluctuations in our sales and financial performance. The usage and purchases of RVs and boats also are affected by consumers’ level of discretionary income and their confidence about economic conditions and changes in interest rates and in the availability and cost of gasoline. As a result, our sales and operating results can be, and in the past have been, adversely affected by the following:

These conditions also often lead to increased price competition in our markets which could force us to reduce our prices, thereby reducing sales revenue and our margins.

We rely heavily on bank borrowings in the operation of our business. We rely heavily on bank borrowings to fund our working capital requirements and capital expenditures. Our outstanding borrowings create additional risks for our business. Among other things, we may find it more difficult to obtain additional financing to fund expansion or take advantage of other business opportunities, and we use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to pay the principal and interest on our debt. Therefore, our existing debt makes us more vulnerable to general economic downturns and competitive pressures and, as discussed above in this Section of this Report, the interest we have to pay on such debt impacts our operating results.

The Effects of Possible Changes in Supply Relationships in Our Markets. As is the customary practice in our markets, in most instances we do not have long term supply contracts with our product suppliers. As a result, product suppliers are free to change the terms on which they will sell us products or to discontinue supplying us with products altogether, because they may choose to distribute their products directly to after-market dealers or because they might choose to establish exclusive supply relationships with other distributors. Additionally, manufacturers of new RVs and boats may choose to incorporate optional equipment on their RVs and boats at the time of manufacture that, historically were provided to their dealers by distributors such as the Company. Any of these occurrences could result in increased competition in our markets or reduce the number of products we are able to offer our customers, which could cause our sales to decline and could result in lower margins.

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Additional uncertainties are discussed above in this Section of this Report, including, in particular, in the introductory portion of this Section that discusses our accounting policies and estimates and the effects those policies and estimates can have on our future financial position and operating results.

Due to these and other possible uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this Report, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report. We also disclaim any obligation to update forward-looking information contained in this Report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our exposure to market risk with respect to financial instruments is primarily related to changes in interest rates with respect to borrowing activities, which may adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. To a lesser degree, we are exposed to market risk from foreign currency fluctuations associated with our Canadian operations and our Canadian currency denominated debt. We do not use financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes and are not party to any derivative financial instruments.

In seeking to minimize the risks from interest rate fluctuations, we manage exposures through our regular operating and financing activities. The fair value of borrowings under our revolving credit facility approximates the carrying value of such obligations. As of December 31, 2003, we had outstanding borrowings of $23.7 million under our revolving credit facility.

We sometimes enter into forward exchange agreements to reduce the effect of foreign currency fluctuations on a portion of our inventory purchases in Canada for our Canadian operations. The gains and losses on these contracts are reflected in earnings in the period during which the transactions being hedged are recognized. We believe that these agreements do not subject us to significant market risk from exchange rate movements because the agreements offset gains and losses on the balances and transactions being hedged. As of December 31, 2003, there were no such agreements outstanding.

Approximately 14% of our debt is denominated in Canadian currency, which also exposes us to market risk associated with exchange rate movements. Historically, we have not used derivative financial instruments to manage our exposure to foreign currency rate fluctuations since the market risk associated with our foreign currency denominated debt has not been considered significant.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Other Financial Statement Schedules are omitted as the information is not required, is not material or is otherwise furnished.)

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Board of Directors and Stockholders of The Coast Distribution System, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Coast Distribution System, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As described in Note N to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has restated its 2002 and 2001 financial statements.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of The Coast Distribution System, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 2003 and 2002, and the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited Schedule II of The Coast Distribution System, Inc. and Subsidiaries for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003. In our opinion, this schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information therein.

/s/ Grant Thornton LLP

San Jose, California

February 27, 2004

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)