His mother, Ada Vincent, travelled back from Argentina to have her children in order to secure British citizenship.

His education began at St. George's, a British Preparatory School in Quilmes, a suburb of Buenos Aires.

[2][3] Philip bought his first motorcycle, a secondhand 350cc BSA from Gamages in Holborn[3] at Christmas 1924 which vibrated badly and was replaced by an ABC; he designed his first bike in 1925.

His father agreed that he could have a break from university to develop his first "Vincent Special", with a 350 cc MAG engine, in 1927.

[3] The prototype used his own design of diamond-shaped frame constructed from short-tubes having 'lug' ends consistent with technology of the time, combined with his twin-spring, friction-damped cantilever rear suspension.

Other main components added were proprietary – Webb front forks, Royal Enfield brakes, Moss gearbox and a McEvoy fuel tank.

In 1949 the HRD logo was dropped to prevent confusion with the "HD" of Harley Davidson in the important American Market.

[2][14] He collaborated with writer Roy Harper on several books during the early 1970s including his autobiography entitled PCV, before suffering strokes and heart problems.