Phil Vincent

Philip Conrad Vincent (14 March 1908 – 27 March 1979) was a British motorcycle designer and manufacturer. Founder of Vincent Motorcycles, his designs influenced the development of motorcycles around the world.

Early life

Philip Conrad Vincent was born in Wilbraham Gardens, Fulham on 14 March 1908. His mother, Ada Vincent, travelled back from Argentina to have her children in order to secure British citizenship. The family owned a cattle ranch between Monte Buey and Monte Maize, in the province of Córdoba, Argentina. His education began at St. George's, a British Preparatory School in Quilmes, a suburb of Buenos Aires. He was sent back to England to live with his uncle, John Vincent, who was a veterinary surgeon and lived at High House, Horndon on the Hill, Essex. Philip's education was continued there together with his two sisters, Gwendoline & Marjorie, a cousin and four other local children. He spent a year at Downsend Preparatory School, Leatherhead. He was then accepted at Harrow School where, in the school sanitorium during a three-week period of minor-illness in the company of another patient, an enthusiast, he was introduced to motorcycles.

Philip bought his first motorcycle, a secondhand 350cc BSA from Gamages in Holborn

Manufacturing

Philip formed his first company with Frank Walker, a family friend.

Philip Vincent also experimented with three-wheeled vehicles, amphibious vehicles, and automobiles. In 1932 the first 3-wheeler, "The Vincent Bantam" appeared, powered by a 293 cc SV JAP or 250 cc Villiers engine. It was a 2.5 cwt delivery van with a car seat and a steering wheel. The Bantam cost £57-10-0 and the windscreen and hood option cost £5-10-0. Production ceased in 1936.

Writing

During the 1960s Vincent contributed to motorcycling journals, writing technical articles as a freelancer.

He used his full title of Phil Vincent C Eng, AMI Mech E, AMIPE (Chartered Engineer, Associate Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and Associate Member of the Institution of Production Engineers, respectively) in Motor Cycle, and – in accordance with established 'house style' – under the simple abbreviation "P.C.V." in Motorcycle Sport.

Examples of Vincent's works:

Phil Vincent on oils (1964) Spring frame design (1966) Three Cylinder engines for roadsters? (1966) Vincent suggests a 32-cylinder racer (1967) Modern lubrication problems (1969) A visit to Castrol (1969) PCV on horsepower (1969)

Later life After the commercial failure of Vincent Motorcycles in 1955, Philip worked on production of small industrial engines, leaving his Stevenage factory for the last time in 1960. He then worked as a car dealer and writer whilst continuing his lifelong technical devotion by working on a rotary-engine concept, which took most of his money.

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

Philip Conrad Vincent died in 1979 at Ashford Hospital in Middlesex following a long illness. His ashes are interred in the family plot at St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Horndon-on-the-Hill, Essex.