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Spartan Motors Receives Summit Chassis Orders From Forest River

8 April 1999

Spartan Motors Receives Summit Chassis Orders From RV Maker Forest River

             New Customer Continues Strong Activity in Motorhomes

    CHARLOTTE, Mich., April 8 -- Spartan Motors, Inc.
, a leading manufacturer of custom chassis, today announced an
agreement to supply its newly introduced Summit series motorhome chassis to
Forest River, Inc.  Spartan Motors said the Goshen, Ind.-based manufacturer
represents its third new RV customer in the last three months.
    Charlotte, Mich.-based Spartan Motors expects to begin shipping Summit
chassis to Forest River in the second half of 1999 for the RV maker's Windsong
Class A motorhome product.  Spartan Motors will be the exclusive supplier of
rear-engine diesel chassis to Forest River.
    "The addition of Forest River, both as a new RV customer and a new user of
our Summit chassis, validates our efforts and investments to raise the bar on
quality, customer service and innovation," said John Sztykiel, Spartan Motors
president and chief operating officer.  "We are pleased to be partnering with
a rapid up-and-comer like Forest River, and look forward to growing with them
over the long-term."
    Forest River is among the top five recreational vehicle makers in the
country, providing a full line of towable, fifth-wheel and motorized RVs for
customers throughout North America.  The addition of the Summit chassis adds a
diesel pusher option to Forest River's lineup of gasoline-powered motorhome
products.
    "Forest River is aggressively targeting the Class A diesel pusher
motorhome market, and we expect the combination of Spartan's high performance
chassis with our innovative coach designs, floor plans and features to be an
immediate hit with customers," said Forest River CEO Peter Liegl.
    Motorhomes and most notably the premium Class A segment continue to lead
strong overall growth in the recreational vehicle market.  Rear-engine diesel
motorhomes, like those manufactured by Spartan Motors, are the fastest growing
segment within the Class A market, growing their share more than 20% in 1998
according to RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association) statistics.
    Sztykiel concluded:  "The RV industry continues to be a tremendous growth
opportunity for Spartan Motors and our OEM customers as population
demographics and stable economic trends weigh in our favor over the near and
long-term.  Spartan is well positioned with the right products and,
importantly, the commitments from our component suppliers to fully capitalize
on this demand."
    Goshen, Ind.-based Forest River, Inc. is a full-line manufacturer of
recreational vehicles.  The Company's RV products are sold through a
nationwide network of more than 600 dealers.
    Spartan Motors, Inc. (http://www.spartanmotors.com) is the leading manufacturer
of diesel-powered, custom-built chassis for the Class A motorhome market.  The
Company also manufactures chassis for fire trucks, transit buses, school buses
and other specialty vehicles.  Spartan owns three companies that manufacture
emergency vehicles -- Luverne Fire Apparatus, Quality Manufacturing and Road
Rescue -- and a stake in school bus manufacturer Carpenter Industries, Inc.
    The statements contained in this news release include certain predictions
and projections that may be considered forward-looking statements by the
securities laws.  These statements involve a number of risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive,
governmental and technological factors affecting the Company's operations,
markets, products, services and prices, and actual results may differ
materially.