Only U.S. (and perhaps Canada?) delivery cars had the VIN on the B pillar near the driver's door lock. For most other markets in the world, there are only two locations for the VIN. On the firewall as stated, stamped into the steel, and then on the silver and black aluminium plate riveted onto the steelwork above the radiator.
DOes the VIN you have at least seem plausible?
It will be
116 028 XY ZZZZZZ
If the car is left hand drive, then X will be 1
If the car is right hand drive, then X will be 2
If the car is manual, then Y will be 0
if the car is Auto, then Y will be 2
ZZZZZZ is the sequence number. Since its 1973, its one of the earliest cars. I would expect the first two, and possibly the third, Z to be 0