I think the fable about the driveshafts is based on a story about a Works rally servicing 'emergency', originally recounted by Ray Hutton in Autocar's 'Given The Works' feature of early December 1970, which tested Rauno Aaltonen's car ('TKS 33 SA 695') which had just finished the 1970 RAC Rally.
In the article, Hutton tells how Aaltonen and co-driver/navigator Paul Easter broke a driveshaft on the Clipstone stage, drove to the end of the stage with the remains flailing around (Aaltonen thought it was a puncture) and then removed it. They drove the next stage with only one driveshaft (hence proving that their LSD's preload must have been pretty high...!) and no rear brakes. At the next scheduled service Hutton recounts that the service crew (presumably having no spare driveshafts on board) took one from their 'Datsun 1800' estate service barge.
I've seen this story - regurgitated half digested - retold as them 'borrowing' parts off of spectators' cars, including an Austin 1800 Land Crab. Ockham's Razor suggests Chinese Whispers is the most likely explanation.
