Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1962 thunderbird, wheel lug nuts, wheel wobble

Question
Yesterday the left front wheel(I think) start thrumming, increase and decreases with speed and stops with application of the brakes.  No wheel wobble or brake fade for now.  Is this likely a faulty front wheel bearing? If it is can I drive 2 miles to mechanic?

Answer
Yes, probably it is a wheel bearing.  Just to be safe, if you can possibly do it, jack up that corner of the car far enough to get that tire off the pavement, and shake it in and out and front to back to make sure it is not about to fall off the car!  It is possibly loose wheel lug nuts, possibly loose wheel bearing retainer nut, or failing wheel bearings.  Any of these things can cause the wheel to fall off, in which case you would be stuck in the middle of the road, even if you were driving very slowly - which I would strongle recommend if you decide to drive it after making the above check.

Feel for any serious looseness (the wheel should have some free play, but no more than 1/4 inch at the rim).   Also, pop the wheel cover off and make sure the lug nuts are tight before you drive it.  If both things check out OK, I suppose it would be OK to drive it very slowly if traffic is light and you have a chase vehicle following you with the emergency flashers going.

If you would like to be perfectly safe, call the tow truck and insist that they "flat bed" it to the mechanic.

Good luck!

Dick