CONSENT
                                       OF
                              NELSON E. BOWERS, II







         I, NELSON E. BOWERS, II, hereby consent to being named a "Director
Nominee" of Sonic Automotive, Inc. (the "Company") in a Registration Statement
of the Company on Form S-1 that is to be filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Company's initial
public offering.



August 7, 1997                              /s/
                                                         Nelson E. Bowers, II