Dissatisfied with the soft steel pitons used by other climbers, he taught himself blacksmithing and created a spike of chrome nickel steel so strong and light that it fundamentally changed the sport.
The main differences between the two are a sport-tuned suspension, those 19-inch machined alloy wheels and tires, distinctive headlights with dark chrome inserts, and R-Spec badges outside the vehicle and on the floor mats.