FORM 4 OMB APPROVAL
[ ] Check box if no longer subject to OMB Number: 3235-0287
Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obli- Expires: September 30, 1998
gations may continue. See Instruc- Estimated average burden
tions 1(b). hours per response.....05
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(f)
of the Investment Company Act of 1940
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
BELK, WILLIAM I.
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(Last) (First) (Middle)
6100 Fairview Road, #640
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(Street)
Charlotte, North Carolina 28210
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(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Sonic Automotive, Inc. ("SAH")
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3. IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (Voluntary)
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4. Statement for Month/Year
1/99
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5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)
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6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
[X] Director [ ] 10% Owner
[ ] Officer (give title below)
[ ] Other (specify below)
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7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing
(check applicable line)
[X] Form Filed by One Reporting Person
[ ] Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table 1 -- Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of,
or Beneficially Owned
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1. Title of 2. Transaction 3. Transaction 4. Securities Acquired (A) 5. Amount of 6. Ownership 7. Nature of
Security Date (Month/ Code or Disposed of (D) Securities Form: Dir- Indirect
(Instr. 3) Day/Year) (Instr. 8) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) Beneficially ect (D) or Benefic-
-------------------------- Owned at end Indirect (I) ial Own-
Month (Instr. 4) ership
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price (Instr. 3 and 4)
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A Common Stock 1/7/99 M 10,000 A $14.500 5,000* D
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Class A Common Stock 1/7/99 S 7,500 D $34.6442 5,000* D
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</TABLE>
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially
owned directly or indirectly.
(Over)
SEC 1474 (7.96)
<PAGE>
Form 4 (continued)
Table 11 -- Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1. Title of 2. Conversion 3. Transaction 4. Transaction 5. Number of 6. Date Exercisable 7. Title and Amount
Derivative or Exercise Date (Month/ Code Derivative and Expiration of Underlying
Security Price of Day/Year) (Instr. 8) Securities Date (Month/ Securities
(Instr. 3) Derivative Acquired (A) Day/Year) (Instr. 3 and 4)
Security or Disposed ---------------- ----------------
of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4,
and 5) Date Expira- Amount or
---------------- Exer- tion Number of
Code V (A) (D) cisable Date Title Shares
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Options to purchase $14.50 1/7/99 M 10,000 12/3/98 3/31/08 Class A 10,000
Common Stock
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<CAPTION>
8. Price of 9. Number of 10. Ownership of 11. Nature of
Derivative Derivative Derivative Indirect
Security Securities Security: Beneficial
(Instr. 5) Beneficially Direct (D) or Ownership
Owned at End Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)
of Year (Instr. 4)
(Instr. 4)
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$14.50 None
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</TABLE>
Explanation of Responses:
* Immediately following the transactions reported on this Form 4, Mr. Belk
beneficially owned 2,500 shares of Class A Common Stock. On January 25,
1999, in connection with the Company's 2-for-1 split of its Class A Common
Stock, Mr. Belk received a dividend of one share of Class A Common Stock
for each share of Class A Common Stock that he owned at that time
(i.e. a total dividend of 2,500 shares of Class A Common Stock.
/s/ William I. Belk 3/23/99
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**Signature of Reporting Person Date
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal
Violations. See 18 U.S.C 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If
space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained
in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently
valid OMB number.
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SEC 1474 (7-96)
