[2] In 1932 Bedford produced its first light commercial van, it was marketed on the 12 cwt category and was based on the Vauxhall Cadet passenger car but had a more powerful Chevrolet-derived 6-cylinder engine and a heavier American rear axle (taken from the contemporary Chevrolet Independence) which was added in order to accommodate the larger cargo capacity that the van was designed for.

While Bedford began building their heavier trucks in 1945, the lighter HC and JC models had to wait until 1946.

[6] Beginning in late 1946 HCs received a 1442 cc version of the engine as seen in the Vauxhall 12-4 and the heavier JC, developing 35 hp.

[10] The Utilevan was an officially sanctioned conversion by independent coachbuilder Martin Walter, Ltd., who later built the Bedford Beagle.

The visual differences between the HC and JC vans are a higher roofline and longer 105-inch (2,700 mm) wheelbase.

As with the HC, there was also a 'Utilevan' variant on offer, a carryall version of the van with two folding rear seats and a maximum capacity of seven people.

Australian built JCs (and 14s) have split windshields, a detail that continued on the succeeding PC model as the smaller panes were cheaper and easier to replace given Australia's gravel roads.

In mid-1948 the JC was updated with a column shifted three-speed transmission and 12-volt electrics, which also meant a name change to Bedford PC.