Did the early Mark II Cooper 'S' bonnet badges still use the Mark I badges and if so when did they change to the oval badging?

I thought all mk2 got the ford badge I mean oval badging

I've seen some early mk2s with mk1 front badges, so the answer is yes.

Is that from new? Owners choice? Or accident damage

I've seen the Mk 1 badges on a couple of early Mk 2's but I didn't have the foresight to get the build numbers.
I used to own Mk 2 #940 & it had the oval badge originally, if that's any help...

Without factory records we can never be 100% sure but I'm very confident the MK II's used the oval badge from the beginning of production. Whilst the use of the metal heater, tin tank master cylinders, Lockheed booster and 9fsay engines in early MK II's is now well known there's been no suggestion to date that the bonnet badge was other than the oval one (other than this current question).

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Yes factory, but the first cars where built all mk2.

were they YG2S4 or YKG2S2?

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

From my memory (unreliable), all Mk2s had the oval badge because that and the flares were their main marketing features when newly released. When I bought my mini K in 1969, there were still new Mk1s in BMC showrooms for sale and these often had flares fitted to 'modernise' their appearance. It isn't impossible that dealers might have fitted oval badges to help the upgrade, although that would have involved some filler and a touchup to cover the holes.

Who would want to buy the new Cooper S with old badges?

Good question. The body stamping is what differentiates the two models and is important during the changeover period in 1969 when various combinations of ancillaries were fitted.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

exactly my thoughts... imagine ordering one, then fronting up to the dealer expecting the 'new model', and seeing the old badge on the front of it.

It could be that they were YKG2S2 with 4 synchro boxes and flares, basically MK2 but prior to the number change

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Just don't call it a Mk1.5 or some people may get upset.

no no no, I'm talking about a MK 1.3333, MK1.5 is a MK2 with no ID plate, and MK3 is a MK2 with flappy door handles, right?

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

I believe all Mk2 had oval badges. Car number 627 (the 127th Mk2) had an oval badge. Owners of earlier cars can probably shrink the model number closer to the earliest Mk2 made.