SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                               ------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                         Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                          Date of Report: June 11, 1997
                       -----------------------------------

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
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                  (Originator of the Trust referred to herein)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                     CHASE MANHATTAN AUTO OWNER TRUST 1997-A
                  --------------------------------------------
                      (Issuer with respect to Certificates)


       NEW YORK              33-99546                13-2633612
      ---------------     -----------------       ------------------
      (State or other      (Commission             (IRS Employer
      jurisdiction of      File Number)          Identification No.)
      incorporation)


      270 Park Avenue, New York, New York               10017
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      (Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip code)


                                (212) 270-6000
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                (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                      
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Item 5. Other Events

    On 4/15/1997 and and 5/15/97 Chase Manhattan Auto Owner Trust 1997-A 
(the "Trust") made distributions  to Certificateholders  contemplated  by the 
Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of February 28, 1997, (the "Sale & 
Servicing Agreement"), between the  Registrant,  as Seller and  Servicer,  and 
the Trust, as Issuer.

    Copies of the  Certificateholder  Reports for such  Distribution Dates
delivered pursuant  to section 5.8 of the Sale and Servicing Agreement are
being filed as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K.


Item 7 (c). Exhibits
            --------

  Exhibit   Description
  -------   -----------

  20.1      Monthly Certificateholder's statement with respect to the
            April 15, 1997 distribution.


  20.2      Monthly Certificateholder's statement with respect to the
            May 15, 1997 distribution.

                                      
<PAGE>

                              SIGNATURES
                              ----------



      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Bank has  caused  this  report  to be signed  on its  behalf by the  undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.



                                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

                                            /s/ William J. Schiralli
                                            -----------------------------
                                            By: William J. Schiralli
                                            Title: Vice President




Date:  June 11, 1997




                      
<PAGE>

                              INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                              -----------------
                                                              
                                                              
   Exhibit                         Description                 
   -------                         -----------                 

     20.1                Certificateholder Reports dated        
                         4/15/1997 delivered pursuant to
                         Section 5.8 of the Sale and 
                         Servicing  Agreement dated as of 
                         February 28, 1997.

     20.2                Certificateholder Reports dated
                         5/15/97 delivered pursuaznt to
                         Section 5/8 of the Sale and
                         Servicing Agreement dated as of
                         February 28, 1997.