WARNER NORCROSS & JUDD LLP
                              900 Old Kent Building
                              111 Lyon Street, N.W.
                        Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503-2487

                          Telephone No.: (616) 752-2000
                    Fax No.: (616) 752-2500 & (616) 752-2501

                                 April 18, 1997


EDGAR TRANSMISSION
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

     RE:  SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.
          COMMISSION FILE NO. 0-13611
          REGISTRATION FILE NO.:  333-25357
          REQUEST FOR DELAYED EFFECTIVENESS

Dear Sir or Madam:

          This letter hereby requests that the effective date of a Form
S-3 Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (Registration File No. 333-25357) of Spartan Motors, Inc.
("Spartan") to register 200,000 shares of Common Stock of Spartan for the
sale to Outside Market Advisors pursuant to the Spartan Motors, Inc. 1996
Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan for Outside Market Advisors be
delayed until the Registrant shall file an amendment which specifically
states that this Registration Statement shall become effective in
accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until
the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the
Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a) may determine.

          This filing is transmitted electronically through the EDGAR
system and is subject to Regulation S-T.  Pursuant to Rule 309, only one
copy of this electronically formatted document is transmitted.

          If the Commission has any comments or requires any further
information, please call me at (616) 752-2137.

                              Very truly yours,

                              /s/ Stephen C. Waterbury

                              Stephen C. Waterbury