The SMEG 500 takes the diminutive Italian motoring icon of the late 1950s and 60s, chops it in half and turns the front storage compartment into an Energy Class A+ rated chest refrigerator.

The latest addition to a growing range of Fiat 500-based or inspired home furnishings and fittings, the SMEG 500 joins a dining table, picnic table and sofa that are already on sale exclusively through the Fiat 500 Design Collection website, and comes with a €5,500 price tag.

Although taking such a well-loved car and essentially chopping it up may upset some automotive and design purists, the partnership between the two companies and its results aren’t as sacrilegious as first impressions may suggest.

SMEG and Fiat are both trailblazing Italian companies that brought good design and affordable products to the masses. In fact, the companies first came together in the 1950s when SMEG’s know-how enabled Fiat to produce fridges alongside its cars on its production lines, helping to create the Italian market for ‘white goods’ in the process.

As well as being A+ rated, the SMEG 500 fridge offers a 100-litre capacity, a dedicated shelf for cans, automatic defrosting and an operating noise level of 42dB. Available in white, green or red, the fridge is 125cm wide, 80cm deep and stands at 83cm with the bonnet closed.