Sec Form 4 Filing - SMITH DAVID BRUTON @ SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC - 2015-06-16

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person SMITH DAVID BRUTON 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC [ SAH] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Vice Chairman (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC., 4401 COLWICK ROAD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 06/16/2015 (Street) CHARLOTTE, NC28211 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Class B Common Stock ( 1 ) 06/16/2015 P 67.64 ( 2 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) Class A Common Stock 67.64 $ 24.24 ( 3 ) 8,881,250 ( 4 ) I by SFC

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other SMITH DAVID BRUTON C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. 4401 COLWICK ROAD CHARLOTTE, NC28211 X Vice Chairman Signatures /s/ David Bruton Smith 06/19/2015 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Shares of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock are convertible into shares of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class A Common Stock on a 1-for-1 basis at the option of the reporting person and there is no expiration date. ( 2 )The reported securities are held by Sonic Financial Corporation ("SFC"), a North Carolina corporation of which the reporting person is a shareholder and an officer. On June 16, 2015, the reporting person's father, Mr. O. Bruton Smith, transferred voting shares of SFC to the reporting person and certain of his siblings in connection with estate and financial planning by Mr. O. Bruton Smith, and therefore, such transaction constitutes a proportionate transfer of his pecuniary interest in shares of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock held by SFC to the reporting person. ( 3 )Based solely on the closing price of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class A Common Stock on June 15, 2015, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. ( 4 )Represents the entire amount of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock held by SFC. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock held by SFC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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