U. S. importer Max Hoffman is claimed as being largely responsible for Mercedes’ decision to build a roadster version of the gullwing coupe. The roadster made its first appearance in the spring of 1957 at the Geneva Motor Show. By the end of the year, the final 70 gullwing coupes and the first 618 roadsters produced came off the assembly line. More importantly, it established a long history of high-performance two-seat convertibles as part of the Mercedes-Benz hierarchy. Roadster production ended on February 8, 1963 after 1,858 were produced.
