<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Consoli- dated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Statement of Income and Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows included in the Company's Form S-4 Registration Statement for the six months ending June 30, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Financial Statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001043509 <NAME> SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 27,228 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 35,761 <ALLOWANCES> 2,300 <INVENTORY> 175,515 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 244,111 <PP&E> 22,040 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 369,623 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 194,134 <BONDS> 54,644 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 11,763 <COMMON> 113 <OTHER-SE> 91,525 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 369,623 <SALES> 567,279 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 648,840 <CGS> 566,392 <TOTAL-COSTS> 566,392 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 61,473 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,086 <INCOME-PRETAX> 10,904 <INCOME-TAX> 4,100 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,804 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,804 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.60 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.58