SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM 10-K

                                  ANNUAL REPORT


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



                 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
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                  (Originator of the Trust referred to herein)


                     CHASE MANHATTAN AUTO OWNER TRUST 1996-C
              -----------------------------------------------------
                      (Issuer with respect to Certificates)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


       for the fiscal year                              333-7575
       year ended December 31, 1996               Commission File Number


         Delaware                                      13-2633612
      ---------------                              ------------------
      (State or other                                (IRS Employer
      jurisdiction of                              Identification No.)
      incorporation)


       802 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, Delaware           19801
      -------------------------------------------       ----------
      (Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip code)


                                 (302) 575-5033
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                (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  None.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

Indicate  by a check  mark  whether  the  registrant  (1) has filed all  reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant  was required to file such  reports) and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes:    No: X

All of the Registrant's voting stock is held by Chase Manhattan Automotive
Finance Corporation and Chase Auto Funding Corporation.  None of the
Registrant's voting stock is held by non-affiliates.

Registrant has not been involved in bankruptcy  proceedings during the preceding
five years.



<PAGE>


           Chase Manhattan Auto Owner Trust 1996-C (the "Trust") was formed
pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement (the "Agreement") between Chase
Manhattan Bank USA, National Association, as Seller and Servicer, and an
unrelated trustee (the "Trustee").  The Asset Backed Certificates of the Trust
represent the beneficial ownership interest in the Trust.  The Trust files
reports pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, in the manner described in "no-action" letters submitted to
the Office of Chief Counsel on behalf of the originators of comparable trusts.
Accordingly, responses to certain items have been omitted from or modified
in this Annual Report.

                                       PART I

Item 1.    Business.

           Omitted.

Item 2.    Properties.

           The assets of the Trust consist of, among other things, a segregated
pool of simple interest retail installment sales contracts and purchase money
loans (the "Receivables") secured by new and used automobiles and light-duty
trucks.  Information  regarding  the  Trust is included in the Annual
Statement of Compliance filed under Item 14 hereof.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings.

           The registrant  knows of no material  pending legal  proceedings with
respect to the Trust, involving the Trust, Norwest Bank Minnesota,
National Association, (the "Indenture Trustee"),  Wilmington Trust Company
(the "Owner Trustee") or Chase Manhattan Bank USA, N.A. (the "Servicer").

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

           No matter was  submitted to a vote of  Certificateholders  during the
fiscal year covered by this report.

                                       PART II

Item 5.   Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.

           To the knowledge of the registrant, the Certificates  are traded in
the over-the-counter market to a limited extent.

           The records of the Trust indicate that as of December 31, 1996, there
was one Certificateholder of record.

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data.

           Omitted.

Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of
           Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

           Omitted.

Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

           Omitted.

Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
           Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

           None.

<PAGE>

                                      PART III


Item 10.   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

           Omitted.

Item 11.   Executive Compensation.

           Omitted.

Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
           Management.

           As of December 31, 1996,  the numbers of Certificateholders of
record holding  more than 5% of the Series 1996-C  Asset Backed Certificates
are as follows:

                    class               number of 5% holders
                    -----               --------------------

                     A-1                          4
                     A-2                          2
                     A-3                          6
                     A-4                          5


Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

           Omitted.

                                       PART IV


Item 14.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and
           Reports of Form 8-K.


           (a) The  following  documents are filed as part of this Annual Report
on Form 10-K:  NONE.
<PAGE>


                                     SIGNATURES


                Pursuant  to the  requirements  of  Section  13 or  15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  the registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized

Date:  March 28, 1997

                                        CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, USA, N.A.
                                        as Servicer


                                        By:   /s/ Keith Schuck
                                        Name:  Keith Schuck
                                        Title: Controller


SUPPLEMENTAL  INFORMATION  TO BE FURNISHED  WITH REPORTS  FILED  PURSUANT TO
SECTION 15(D) OF THE ACT BY  REGISTRANTS  WHICH HAVE NOT REGISTERED
SECURITIES  PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE ACT.

No annual  report, proxy  statement,  form of proxy or other  proxy  soliciting
material has been sent to  Certificateholders  during the period covered by this
Annual  Report on Form 10-K and the  registrant  does not intend to furnish such
materials to Certificateholders subsequent to the filing of this report.