Neil Young Journeys to the Past

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eil Young is no stranger to car culture. He has a passion for vintage automobiles, but he’s not stuck on a nostalgia trip—he’s also been one of the pioneers in the alternative fuel movement. So, it’s no surprise that his new concert film, “Neil Young Journeys,” directed by Jonathan Demme, features Young on a road trip in a 1956 Crown Victoria.

The film, which will see limited release at the end of this month, follows the singer on a trip from his hometown of Omemee, Ontario, to Toronto, where he performed at Massey Hall. 

“The Crown Vic is the same age, within ten years, as I am, so traveling in this vehicle seemed to make sense.” —Neil Young

“The Crown Vic is the same age, within ten years, as I am, so traveling in this vehicle seemed to make sense,” Young told Fox News. “I love old cars. I always ride around in old cars. That’s the way I like to live.”

But Young is also very forward-thinking when it comes to powering his automobiles. In 2008 he began the process of converting his 1959 Lincoln Continental into a biodiesel-electric hybrid. Dubbed the LincVolt, the project was created "to inspire a generation by creating a clean automobile propulsion technology that serves the needs of the 21st Century and delivers performance that is a reflection of the driver's spirit. By creating this new power technology, LincVolt hopes to reduce the demand for petro-fuels enough to eliminate the need for war over energy supplies, thereby enhancing the security of the USA and other nations throughout the world."

The project has not gone smoothly, however—in 2010 Young was sued for $1 million in damages over a warehouse fire that was allegedly caused by the car.

The LincVolt is on track to be completed this year, and according to the project’s web site, it will be “the world's first Series Hybrid Electric car with a generator fueled by cellulosic ethanol from biomass.” In other words, it's part fueled by electricity, and part by wood, grasses, and other plant matter.

Young is currently on tour with Crazy Horse in support of his latest album, Americana.