72 442 W30 Convertable
 

Why in the 72 dealer sales guide does the W30 option cost more w/o power brakes than with power brakes?

It wasn't only 1972. The price difference also appears for the 1971 model year:

http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/stati...cs/image8.html

Why?

I can't seem to find a definitive answer for it. I will take a wild guess though and say that the camshaft in the "without power brakes" is a little wilder then the one with power brakes. Maybe Olds outsourced the cam from a 3rd party and passed the added cost on to the buyer.

Your correct the cam is hotter for manual brakes but shouldn't cost more.

No AC offered in '72 with the W30, either.

OK - how about this as a reason for the difference in the W30 option prices:

If you went with the M40 and JL2 those options cost $304 while just going with the M20 costs $190. So the additional $22 was just Olds nicking a buyer who just wanted the M20.