The 1972 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 ceased to be its own separate model line and was merely an appearance and handling package on the Cutlass. Looking at the bigger picture, though, Oldsmobile rose to third place in the sales race as Cutlass sales boomed.

While much of the performance was gone, some of the spark remained as Olds paced the Indy 500 for the second time in three years in the form of a gold and white Hurst/Olds. In all, 499 Hurst/Olds two-door Hardtops were sold along with 130 Convertibles.

A total of 9,845 buyers opted for the 4-4-2 handling and appearance package, but few went for the still available W-30 package. Options for the 1972 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 included power brakes, power steering, air conditioning, power seats, power windows, super stock wheels, power door locks, AM/FM stereo, cruise control, tilt steering column, tinted glass, Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission 3-speed floor shift manual, and 4-speed manual (close-ratio optional).

For 1973, net rather than gross horsepower numbers were used, which knocked a considerable amount off the bragging rights. The W-30 package disappeared and the hottest available was a 270-hp, 455 cid V-8. Tubby colonnade hardtops replaced the crisp shapes of the late 60s with “push bumpers” and puffy cloth interiors. Even so, Oldsmobile sales increased to an all-time high of 938,970 in 1973.