EXHIBIT 23.1


                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Sonic Automotive, Inc.:

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of Sonic Automotive, Inc. on Form
S-8 of (i) our report dated February 16, 1999 on the consolidated financial
statements of Sonic Automotive, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997
and 1998 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998;
(ii) our report dated March 26, 1999 on the combined financial statements of
Williams Automotive Group as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998; (iii)
our report dated March 16, 1999 on the financial statements of Economy Cars,
Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998; (iv) our report dated
March 26, 1999 on the financial statements of Global Imports, Inc. as of and
for the year ended December 31, 1998; (v) our report dated March 12, 1999 on
the combined financial statements of Newsome Automotive Group as of and for the
year ended December 31, 1998; (vi) our report dated March 15, 1999 on the
combined financial statements of Lloyd Automotive Group as of and for the year
ended December 31, 1998; and (vii) our report dated March 24, 1999 on the
financial statements of Lute Riley Motors, Inc. as of and for the year ended
December 31, 1998, all appearing in the Prospectus dated April 29, 1999 that
was included in Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Registration No. 333-71803). We also consent to the incorporation by reference
in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of Sonic
Automotive, Inc. on Form S-8 of our report dated May 22, 1998 on the combined
financial statements of Hatfield Automotive Group as of December 31, 1996 and
1997 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, our
report dated June 4, 1998 on the financial statements of Casa Ford of Houston,
Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 1997 and our report dated August
21, 1998 on the financial statements of Higginbotham Automotive Group as of and
for the year ended December 31, 1997, all appearing in the Prospectus dated
November 5, 1998 that was included in Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (Registration Nos. 333-64397 and 333-64397-001 through
333-64397-044).

     We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the
Prospectus, which is part of this S-8 Registration Statement.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP



Charlotte, North Carolina
August 9, 1999