THIS CONFORMING PAPER FORMAT DOCUMENT IS BEING
           SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO RULE 901(d) OF REGULATION S-T
                           
                              UNITED STATES
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
                           
                           
                                 FORM 8-K
                           
                           
                              CURRENT REPORT
                           
                           
    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                           
    Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 24, 1998

                        COLLINS INDUSTRIES, INC.
         (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                           
                                 Missouri
            (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
                           
                 0-12619                         43-0985160
         Commission  File  Number        (IRS Employer Identification No.)

        15 Compound Drive, Hutchinson, Kansas          67502
       (Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)


     Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (316) 663-5551

                                   N/A
      (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
                           
    11022959

    Item 5.   Other Events.

    Exhibit 1 - (Press Release of November 24, 1998) is hereby incorporated
                 by reference.
                           
                           
                           SIGNATURE
                           
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
    Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report
    to  be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
    duly authorized.



                                 COLLINS INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                 By:    /s/  Larry  W.  Sayre
                                        Larry W. Sayre
                                        Vice President - Finance and
                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                        (Principal  Accounting Officer)

    Date:     November 30, 1998
                           
                           

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                           
     Exhibit             Description                      Page
                                             
        1          Press release of November 24, 1998       1
                           

                           
    NEWS RELEASE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:        CONTACT: Larry W. Sayre
                                  Vice  President - Finance  & CFO
                                  Telephone: (316) 663-5551

                             
            COLLINS INDUSTRIES AGREES TO ACQUIRE MID BUS, INC.

    Hutchinson,  Kansas,  November  24,  1998  ----  COLLINS
    INDUSTRIES,  INC.  (Nasdaq:  "COLL")  announced  today  the
    signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Mid Bus, Inc.,
    a  Type A school bus manufacturer based in Bluffton,  Ohio.
    Collins Industries believes this acquisition will give  the
    Company approximately 50% of the small school bus market by
    complimenting  existing Type A market growth  from  Collins
    Bus Corporation, another wholly owned subsidiary. Agreement
    is  subject  to customary closing conditions  with  closing
    expected on December 1, 1998.

    Mid Bus, Inc. manufactures a line of Type A-I and Type A-II
    school  buses represented nationally through a  distributor
    organization. Industry publications estimate  annual  sales
    of  the  Type A market to be in excess of 6,000 units  with
    prices typically ranging from $30,000-$45,000 per bus.  Mid
    Bus, Inc. will be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary  of
    Collins  Industries,  Inc.  Terms  of  the  deal  were  not
    disclosed.

    Donald Lynn Collins, President and CEO stated today, "The
    Mid  Bus,  Inc.  acquisition  clearly  establishes  Collins
    Industries  as  the largest manufacturer of Type  A  school
    buses  in  North  America.  Furthermore,  this  acquisition
    enables  us  to  take full advantage of anticipated  market
    growth  and industry changes currently occurring. Mid  Bus,
    Inc.  is a great company with a quality work force  and  we
    certainly look forward to making them an integral  part  of
    our corporate holdings."

    Collins added: "As we move toward the 21st century, Collins
    Industries  will continue to focus on these core  specialty
    vehicle markets. The Mid Bus, Inc. acquisition will  enable
    Collins Industries to further enhance our position  as  the
    nation's  leading  manufacturer of specialty  vehicles.  It
    underscores  our commitment to the markets we  serve  while
    enabling  us  to  continue to build  long-term  shareholder
    value".

    Collins  Industries, Inc. is a leading  manufacturer  of
    ambulances,  small  school  buses,  commercial  buses   and
    terminal  trucks with manufacturing facilities in  Florida,
    Texas  and  Kansas.  Current  subsidiary  holdings  include
    Wheeled  Coach  Industries (the world's  largest  ambulance
    manufacturer),   Capacity  of  Texas  (a   terminal   truck
    manufacturer) and Collins Bus Corporation (a Type A  school
    bus  manufacturer with a commercial/transit bus  division).
    The Company sells its products throughout the United States  
    and, to a lesser extent, abroad.

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