After the discontinuation of the Cutlass Supreme Classic, the model line became the sole Oldsmobile sold with rear-wheel drive.

Following the discontinuation of the model line, GM ended full-size station wagon production after 1996, becoming the final American-brand manufacturer to do so at the time.

Following the fitment of 5 mph bumpers, the 1974–1976 Custom Cruiser grew to over 19 feet long, becoming one of the longest vehicles ever built by Oldsmobile.

Along with similar versions of the Buick Estate, the model line also serves as the heaviest sedan-based GM vehicle ever produced.

While sharing its roofline and doors with its divisional counterparts, the body of the Custom Cruiser was styled as a hybrid of the B-body Delta 88 and the C-body Ninety-Eight, using components from both model lines.

In line with the Vista Cruiser, simulated woodgrain trim was offered as an option, with nearly 80% of buyers selecting the feature.

The clamshell tailgate was intended to aid the loading of the 19-foot long station wagons in tight parking spaces.

Again the counterpart of the Buick Estate and Pontiac Safari, the Custom Cruiser now shared its body with Chevrolet station wagons.

Following the exit of Chrysler from the segment after 1977, the Custom Cruiser competed primarily against the Ford LTD Country Squire and Mercury Colony Park, which remained in production through 1991.

Along with the Chevrolet Caprice remaining the sole B-body sedan/wagon, Oldsmobile and Buick station wagons became distinct model lines (the Pontiac Safari ended production after 1989).

With the overdrive transmission, the Custom Cruiser drive with a numerically higher rear axle ratio for better performance, while offering improved fuel economy with the overdrive range In its final year of production, the second-generation Custom Cruiser marked the end of the Oldsmobile-produced V8 (formerly the "Rocket V8").

Towards the end of the decade, GM phased out the Oldsmobile V8 family, as the 307 was the final engine produced by the company without fuel injection.

Similar to the other B-body Oldsmobile's, the Custom Cruiser gained wraparound front marker lights.

In a minor change, the design of the simulated woodgrain adopted the common layout used by Buick and Chevrolet, joining the headlamps and taillamps.

From 1980 until 1990, the exterior and interior of the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser saw almost no visible change, besides a small front fascia swap in 1985.

As part of the redesign, the Custom Cruiser received functional upgrades including anti-lock brakes and a driver-side airbag (replacing the door-mounted passive-restraint seatbelts).

The 1991 and 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser is based upon the GM B platform, carrying over the 116-inch wheelbase from the previous generation.

In a central part of the 1991 redesign of the B platform, General Motors retired its practice of divisionally-developed engines in favor of standardizing the Chevrolet small-block V8 across all GM rear-wheel drive cars and trucks.

The body-color split grille was derived nearly entirely from the Chevrolet Caprice, with a fixed second-row skylight shared with the Roadmaster Estate.

In a major break from both its predecessor and the Caprice/Roadmaster, exterior woodgrain trim was discontinued, instead styled with two-tone paint as standard; wire-style wheelcovers were replaced by aluminum-alloy wheels.

In another major change, the use of chrome trim was extensively reduced, with body-color bumper covers integrated into the body.

While its aerodynamically curved rear roofline proved beneficial for fuel economy, the design forced the retirement of the three-way tailgate.

[2] In contrast to its predecessor, the instrument panel was fitted with a full set of analog gauges (matching the Cutlass Supreme, Touring Sedan, and Troféo).