UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )* SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. (Name of Issuer) COMMON STOCK (Title of Class of Securities) 846819 10 0 (CUSIP Number) Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [X]. (A fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.) (See Rule 13d-7). *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). CUSIP No. 84681910-0 13G ________________________________________________________________________________ (1) Names of Reporting Person S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person George W. Sztykiel ________________________________________________________________________________ (2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) [ ] (b) [ ] ________________________________________________________________________________ (3) SEC Use Only ________________________________________________________________________________ (4) Citizenship or Place of Organization United States of America ________________________________________________________________________________ Number of (5) Sole Voting Power 622,672 Shares Beneficially________________________________________________________ Owned by Each (6) Shared Voting Power 581,028 Reporting ________________________________________________________ Person With (7) Sole Dispositive Power 622,672 ________________________________________________________ (8) Shared Dispositive Power 581,028 ________________________________________________________________________________ (9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,203,700 ________________________________________________________________________________ (10) Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares [ ] ________________________________________________________________________________ (11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9 9.74% ________________________________________________________________________________ (12) Type of Reporting Person IN ________________________________________________________________________________ SCHEDULE 13G UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ITEM 1(A). NAME OF ISSUER: Spartan Motors, Inc. ITEM 1(B). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES: 1000 Reynolds Road Charlotte, Michigan 48813 ITEM 2(A). NAME OF PERSON FILING: George W. Sztykiel ITEM 2(B). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE: 1000 Reynolds Road Charlotte, Michigan 48813 ITEM 2(C). CITIZENSHIP: United States of America ITEM 2(D). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES: Common ITEM 2(E). CUSIP NUMBER: 846819 10 0 ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13D-1(b), OR RULE 13D-2(b), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: Not applicable ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP. (a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 1,203,700 (b) Percent of Class: 9.74% (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 622,672 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 581,028 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 622,672 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 581,028 ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS. Not applicable ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON. The Reporting Person owns 622,672 shares of the Issuer's common stock in his own name and 581,028 shares in which he shares voting or dispositive power by reason of joint ownership, trust or other contract or property right, and shares held by spouse, children or other relatives over whom the listed person may have substantial influence by reason of relationship. ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY. Not applicable ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. Not applicable ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP. Not applicable ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION. Not applicable SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: April 23, 1997 By /S/ GEORGE W. SZTYKIEL George W. Sztykiel Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Board of Directors