When one thinks about Manley Performance today, the idea of high performance engine valves, valvetrain components, pistons, connecting rods, and crankshafts comes to mind.

But back in 1966, when Hank Manley decided to leave the family OE-replacement valve business and get into the high-performance engine components arena for himself, most of the products the company offers today — and most of the engine families they belong to — weren’t anywhere close to reality. In many cases the designers of these engines weren’t even born yet.

For any company to celebrate a 50-year anniversary is a big deal, as the average life of a company fortunate enough to grow to be in the S&P 500 is in the neighborhood of 18 years; for smaller companies the lifespan is much shorter. So it’s a lesson in perseverance and dedication from the Manley family to have sustained their high-performance roots to celebrate five decades of power production.

Today, while Hank is not directly involved in the day-to-day operation of the company — that’s handled by his son, Trip — he’s enjoying his semi-retirement at his mansion in the Swiss Alps. We’re kidding. In reality, he’s cruising around in his supercharged Corvette that’s been highly modified with every possible LS engine part from the Manley catalog, and you’ll get to read about that impressive powerplant and car right here in an upcoming article.

Meanwhile, Trip Manley, GM Michael Tokarchik, and Manufacturing Manager Pete Coleman keep the company running and are constantly on the lookout for new products to manufacture to meet the needs of today’s enthusiasts. In fact, just last year they opened a West Coast distribution center to better meet the needs of their customers.

Now, they are proud to announce that their 50th Anniversary catalog is now available for your perusal; check it out on their website. Or, if you prefer a hard copy of the catalog — and want a sweet T-shirt to go with it — drop a ten-spot in the mail to: Manley Performance, 1960 Swarthmore Ave., Lakewood, NJ 08701.

Here’s to another 50!