content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001574017</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0001043509</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-13395</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>4401 COLWICK ROAD</com:street1>
          <com:city>CHARLOTTE</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NC</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>28211</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>704-566-2400</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Byrd Heath</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>MERRILL LYNCH</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>3455 PEACHTREE RD NE</com:street1>
            <com:street2>SUITE 1000</com:street2>
            <com:city>ATLANTA</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>30326</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>39595</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>2138130.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>23412610</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>08/30/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NEW YORK</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>08/30/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTION EXERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>39595</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>08/30/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>HEATH BYRD</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>4401 COLWICK ROAD</com:street1>
            <com:city>CHARLOTTE</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>NC</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>28211</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>07/19/2023</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>5473</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>295841.44</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>08/30/2023</noticeDate>
        <planAdoptionDates>
          <planAdoptionDate>02/17/2023</planAdoptionDate>
        </planAdoptionDates>
        <signature>HEATH BYRD</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3451}]
text: 144
  0001574017
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001043509
  SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC
  001-13395
  4401 COLWICK ROAD
  CHARLOTTE
  NC
  28211
  704-566-2400
  Byrd Heath
  Officer
  COMMON
  MERRILL LYNCH
  3455 PEACHTREE RD NE
  SUITE 1000
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30326
  39595
  2138130.00
  23412610
  08/30/2023
  NEW YORK
  COMMON
  08/30/2023
  STOCK OPTION EXERCISE
  SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC
  N
  39595
  08/30/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  N
  HEATH BYRD
  4401 COLWICK ROAD
  CHARLOTTE
  NC
  28211
  COMMON
  07/19/2023
  5473
  295841.44
  08/30/2023
  02/17/2023
  HEATH BYRD