<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