How to tow an early A?

To finish the odyssey, my other son took me and I drove the 64 Valiant back 90 miles. No top on the convertible, but sunny and 55 F. At the first stop for gas 10 miles away, I noticed the station had U-haul tow dollies. I inquired, and only $74 one way to home. I wish I had seen them yesterday since that beats the cost and time of an extra trip. I assumed I would have to drive >30 miles to get one and cost ~$150. I need a smart phone so I can search the internet.

The trip helped me practice the trouble-shooting advice I have been giving. Car started out fine, but the engine died 10 miles later. Would fire a bit, but wouldn't run even on starter fluid. That ruled out bad gas clogging the filter or carb (my first thought). I measured nothing at coil+ with a multi-meter. I figured an erratic ignition switch, so jumpered straight from battery to coil+ and it fired up (after jumping). I also ran a jumper wire direct to "field" to get the alternator charging. 5 miles later, it started missing bad at higher throttle. I stopped, smelled plastic and found the coil was really hot (was worrying). I then jumpered in just the ballast with no other factory wires, since I had measured 2 ohms to gnd in the wiring (bad, and why I had skipped it). Ran OK the rest of the way other maybe a bit lean and maybe hot (temp gage not working). Without a few tools I always carry I would have been stuck - starter fluid, multi-meter, alligator wires, jumper cables, water, oil, coolant. My son learned how a little knowledge and planning can greatly simplify your life, though he would have just found the tow dolly on his I-phone. BTW, when I got home I removed the key switch since loose. Instead of a connector, it had electrical tape all over and when I moved the wires the starter fired.

Re towing a ~65 and earlier. Yes, they do have a rear pump and can be push-started. My 65 Newport manual says to push it (or roll downhill) to 40 mph in N, turn on the ignition, and shift to 2 to start. I think in N, it gives no more drag than later trannys. Regardless, I would have pulled the drive-shaft rather than risk the transmission on a tow that distance. I did that once by just driving up on a curb to get under the car.