An original condition poppy red stove and refrigerator spotted roaming the wild! Along with avocado green, harvest gold and coppertone brown, poppy red was a color promoted for kitchen appliances in the 1970s. Poppy did not take off, so it’s rare to see these red appliances still around. Thanks to reader Trish who over on our Facebook page tipped us off to this terrific vintage stove and refrigerator in this rare and luminous color. [Update: Listing gone. Looks like these found a buyer!]I reached out to the seller, who gave me permission to feature these photos for our ever and ever archive. They are for sale in Des Moines, for just $350. And I bet if you ask real nice, the seller will even throw in that macrame owl, what a hoot 😉
Here is what the seller’s listing says:
-Mid 70’s Frigidaire Custom Deluxe Poppy Red Refrigerator and Stove for sale
-Both work, I just upgraded mine so these need a good home.
-Hard-to find poppy red, classic kitch/retro
-Super clean, like New
-Electric Stove and fridge with freezer produced between 1975-1977
-Selling them as a set, may consider an offer on the stove by itself but not the fridge alone.
-Asking $350 but make me an offer! First come first served
She also found an ad for Frigidaire appliances from 1972. This stove cost $289 in 1972. The refrigerator was $369. I think that’s way more money, adjusted for inflation, than we pay for appliance today.
Come on, someone must neeeeeeeed these!
Update: Thanks to some keen eyes, reader Janet in CT spotted another rare red appliance — this 1960s red GE range, listed for sale on the Pensacola, Florida Craigslist.
From the listing:
Vintage 1960’s Range. Original paint (RED), push button setting,very clean in good condition.
Wow, what a beauty. Mega thanks to the Craiglist seller for allowing us to archive their photos of this retro-licious red stove. According to the seller, there are already several interested parties and they think the stove will be sold before the week is through.
SixtiesChic says
1974 Red Poppy appliances are beautiful. My dream kitchen of all time would feature a frigidaire red poppy side by side fridge-no ice/water maker, electric range with window in door and matching washer dryer(I don’t believe they ever made a red poppy dishwasher). I said it before, I’ll say it again. The day that the knuckle heads in charge at GE, Whirlpool,Fridgidaire decide to make appliances in red with stainless steel handles is a day those appliances would sell like hotcakes!
Philippe Racicot says
I have a very similar pair in my basement. My stove is the step above model with the thermostatic “Heat Minder” burner and a glass in the oven door. The range model featured above is a RE-38S, it had a list price of $539.95 in the US back in 1978 and a discounted price $419.44 according to the 1978-79 issue of Consumer Digest. The refrigerator is a FPCI-170T and it has a list price of $559.95 and could be bought discounted at $425.86 according to the same Consumer Digest book.
Since my range and fridge were among the few ones that were sold in Canada. The fridge is exactly like the US version but the range required some modifications to meet the Canadian code of the time. Both are from 1977 and the earliest year for these was 1974 (1975 models). The model number of my range is REG-38CAN and the US version sold for $609.95/$468.66
I also have a few more next to them…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/46985461595/in/album-72157678548208043/
Pam Kueber says
Wow, what a great collection, Philippe — thanks for sharing!
And the prices back in the day — very high compared to what we pay today once you take inflation into account!
$540 in ’78 is the equivalent of about $2,200 today!
Erin says
I’m looking for a red stove and refrigerator here in Columbus, OH. Does anyone know of possible sites/places to go to?
pam kueber says
Erin, usually the best resource is craigslist… also see this story: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/02/27/red-refrigerators-10-places-to-buy-one/
good luck, pam
melisa says
I just found this same fridge! Trying to buy it before the other person shows up…They are selling it for 50.00 runs great!..wish me luck!