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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,
 NUvlamFOvTIjnkSEH3Tbnj+21DqkbQrvfp8+f/iIX88vT53NOHA810SAHIeJ0xIi
 oRdDxnWHWGgPawmX9BB+Og==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-11-007475.txt : 20110204
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-11-007475.hdr.sgml : 20110204
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110204161751
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-11-007475
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081016
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110204
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110204

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH DAVID BRUTON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001448501

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13395
		FILM NUMBER:		11574997

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
		STREET 2:		6415 IDLEWILD ROAD, SUITE 109
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28212

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001043509
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		IRS NUMBER:				562010790
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0207

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5401 EAST INDEPENDENCE BLVD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 18747
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28212
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7045323354

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5401 EAST INDEPENDENCE BLVD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28212
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd298081.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-16</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-10-24</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001043509</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SAH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001448501</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH DAVID BRUTON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6415 IDLEWILD ROAD, SUITE 109</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to Purchase</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person is filing this Form 3/A to remove this option grant that was reported on a Form 3/A filed January 14, 2011 and to return his list of holdings to those originally reported on his Form 3 on October 16, 2008.  At the time of filing that Form 3/A, the reporting person believed the option grant was erroneously omitted from his original Form 3 filing.  However, subsequent to the filing of the Form 3/A, it was discovered that this option grant had been exercised prior to the reporting person's original Form 3 filing and was not beneficially owned by the reporting person on the date he became a director and Section 16 officer of Sonic Automotive, Inc.  Therefore, it was properly not reported on his original Form 3 filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options to purchase vested in three equal annual installments beginning on May 2, 2002.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David B. Smith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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