I've read and own a couple of Vince's books, not that that is a big deal, but I think he says something about training well before forty. I mean, he competed in the 40s, right? I think his book talks about his family moving to california and Vince starting training at 22.
"Unleashing the Wild Physique" is actually a very insightful book with some very interesting diet and training ideas- little things that can really help polish the physique. That was Vince's "thing"- creating a great v-taper, getting ripped, and "sculpting" a body in a certain way. He was very particular about what he liked and didn't. He was known for being very arrogant and even mean, which I believe. While I've never been a big fan of his physique (as an ectomorph myself, I think he just doesn't give me much to shoot for!), I do think some of his ideas have merit. But, yeah, his build just doesn't seem very powerful or inspiring to me- maybe it will as I get older.
Jacob