Exhibit 5.1
                                                                     -----------
                               October 8, 1998

Board of Directors
Sonic Automotive, Inc.
5401 East Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina  28212

Dear Sirs:

      We are acting as counsel to Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "COMPANY"), in connection with the preparation, execution, filing and
processing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION"),
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") relating to
the issuance and sale of up to 1,125,000 shares (the "SHARES") of Class A Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "COMMON STOCK"), reserved for issuance
under the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "PLAN"). This opinion is
furnished to you for filing with the Commission pursuant to Item 601(b)(5) of
Regulation S-K promulgated under the Act.

      In our representation of the Company, we have examined the Registration
Statement, the Plan, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as
amended to date, all actions of the Company's Board of Directors recorded in the
Company's minute book, the form of certificate evidencing the Shares and such
other documents as we have considered necessary for purposes of rendering the
opinions expressed below.

      Based upon the foregoing, we are of the following opinion:

      1.    The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and
            in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

      2.    The Shares proposed to be offered and sold by the Company under the
            Plan have been duly authorized for issuance and, subject to the
            Registration Statement becoming effective under the Act and to
            compliance with any applicable Blue Sky laws and to the issuance of
            such Shares in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, the
            Shares will be, when so issued, legally issued, fully paid and
            non-assessable shares of Common Stock of the Company.

      The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of
North Carolina, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the
Act.

      We hereby consent to the use of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or
the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    PARKER, POE, ADAMS & BERNSTEIN L.L.P.