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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 F7ZTu23dCPfKG7mftDwiGpabV3OoPsDchWuPTpBcVUHyjp6m7Nrm82B77eabPSFi
 b4wkbwAL7InJckJu8dL8Pg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-037958.txt : 20031229
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-037958.hdr.sgml : 20031225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031229151138
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-037958
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031224
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031229

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AUTOBYTEL  INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023364
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL [5900]
		IRS NUMBER:				330711569
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		18872 MACARTHUR BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92612-1400
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9492254500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AUTO BY TEL CORP
		STREET 2:		18872 MACARTHUR BLVD 2ND FL
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92612-1400

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AUTOBYTEL COM INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19981230

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AUTO BY TEL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960920

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRIMES ROBERT S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208108

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22239
		FILM NUMBER:		031075343

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RS GRIMES & CO INC
		STREET 2:		EMPIRE STATE BLDG 350 FIFTH AVE STE 7801
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10018
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128283130

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EMPIRE STATE BLDG
		STREET 2:		350 FIFTH AVE STE 7801
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10018
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd27043.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-24</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001023364</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AUTOBYTEL  INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABTL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208108</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRIMES ROBERT S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O R.S. GRIMES &amp; CO., INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>595 MADISON AVENUE, 39TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.21</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-24</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-24</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></
underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of options to buy shares of common stock in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ariel Amir, attorney-in-fact for Robert S. Grimes</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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