Yes - but not just the '70s. VW introduced the 11Y nnnnnnn chassis number system for the 1966 model year, so any VW made since then will use it.

Australian VWs of the time were manufactured in Melbourne (NOT made in Germany like US Beetles). Therefore, as well as the third digit telling you the year, the SECOND digit should be a '9' which means Australian-made. After 1968 this doesn't apply, as we went back to CKD kit assembly after that.

There are a few other places on Beetles that also have date stamps. Have a look at the wheel rims, under the hubcaps; there will be a little 3-digit date stamp in a small 5mm circle (eg - 6-67). There will also be a date stamp on the back of your speedo, and sometimes on the underside of the front blinker chrome covers.

542 ?? Well as far as i can work out, that doesn't sound like the later nnY nnnnnn format. That sounds more like the earlier consecutive numbering format.

In other words, yours is probably the 5,420,000th or whatever VW made. That means like either late '65 or early '66 before the year numbering system came in. You only have 7 digits on your chassis number?

The dating system used from '66 has at least 9 - three for the model-year-country then at least six more for the number.

The aussie numbering system came in sometime around 1964. Fill yr ruby red had a 194 chassis number remember

No it didn't, my '64 still used the consecutive chassis numbering system. I don't have my paperwork with me but from memory the chassis number was just over 6000000. I know from other dating stamps that my old Beetle was made in June of '64.

Actually a 542nnnn chassis number on Che's car dates to early '63 according to VW's numbering system. You can easily do an internet search for 'VW chassis numbers' but a typical site is http://www.aircooled.net/gnrlsite/resource/specgeninfo/chassisnumbers.htm 

yeah it is a 63. the wide 5 wheels also say 6/63 too. hmmmm