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is there such a thing in existence as a cross-over point for the wheels to be changed over to a neutral steel paint finish instead of the OEW for Mk1 Cooper S'?

Reading in Mr Parnell's book it seems that there was a cross-over point which was MKII introduction time..however, there are examples of MK1's with these as well. Did the export market have the steel paint finish introduced earlier?

Any ideas?

Well, reverse rim wheels were never fitted at the factory so lots of Mk1s had silver reverse rim wheels fitted as an accessory. Cooper S factory fitted rims were, as far as I know, white/cream on Mk1s and silver on Mk2s as Mr Parnell suggests. Let's not forget that when new, Mini Coopers had often barely left the showroom before owners started modifying them and fitting aftermarket parts - it was a HUGE industry, so a bog standard Cooper or "S" was slightly unusual.

I don't think cars built in the UK for export would have had different wheels/colours but I believe cars actually build/assembled outside the UK might have had - for example I think the Australian built Mk1 Cooper S had silver wheels?

And the SA Mk1 S had gold wheels.

But Oz cars only ever came with the 4.5 wheels ... in silver.

Cheers, Ian