Neil Young Vies For X-Prize

Neil Young currently drives a 1982 Mercedes coupe diesel that runs on vegetable oil he buys from a restaurants, but that's just a "band aid", according to him. His real goal is more ambitious: He hired a team to modify his 5000 lbs, 20-foot long 1959 Lincoln Continental to make it run on "on natural gas, electricity or some other form of clean energy". He would like it to get over 100 MPG equivalent and win the $10 million Automotive X-Prize.

Why the 1959 Lincoln Continental? Why not a more reasonable (and light, and aerodynamic) car? Because it is Neil's favorite, and the "craziest and most out-there designs that American automobile manufacturers have come up with".
Read on for more details.

Related:
Quick Questions With Jesse Berst Of X Prize
Calling All Crazy Green Ideas

Comments

[mouselion]

Wish he'd invest some money in air pressure technology for that Lincoln!

OK, probably isn't Neil's cup of tea, and wouldn't look like this,
but I'm predicting this is going to be the future:

http://news.myjoyonline.com/international/200811/22347.asp

[NoCalDrummer]

"Son, you're gonna' drive me to drinkin' If you don't stop drivin' that E-Co Lincoln!"

[Tamoomoo]

Keep on rockin' in the free world, Neil!!! I will never forget when my sister called me on the Friday of Parent's Day Weekend at her college on year, when parents could attend class-- Neil Young was sitting in there, one of the parents! Totally cool.

[frozenporklander]

Sooner or later it all gets real.

[isis]

An amazing man!

[Egalitare]

The brains behind this operation is the uber-tinkerer Johnathan Goodwin, AKA "the Motorhead Messiah. "

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/120/motorhead-messiah.html

[octo]

Neil Young is THE MAN

[NoahVail]

How about a 1963 Ford Econoline? He could call it the Bruce Berry Special.

[SCG]

A good choice for automotive excess, but the 59' Caddy is still the icon to me.

[TrooAmerican]

i want one!!

[KarlaElisa]

Good luck Neil

[Forester]

good luck driving that boat on bear gulch rd!

[ENOS]

I love Neil... Too bad he's Canadian.

[Dystopic]

Neil Young is a snowback?

[JohnFromCensornati]

We got department stores and toilet paper
Got styrofoam boxes for the ozone layer
Got a man of the people, says "Keep hope alive."
Got fuel to burn
Got roads to drive.