What makes an airliner, "A Classic"

Would it be it's date of manufacture/it's age, the fact that is is no longer made or other factors.

Would you consider the 757, 717, A300 and the SAAB turboprops classics?

Thanks,

Gene

To me, a "Classic" is one that had a long service record, was widely used by many airlines, is no longer in production, and is no longer used in US passenger service.
With this criteria, and the types you provided, I would only barely consider the A300 a classic. However, aside from Eastern, Pan Am, Continental & American, it was not in service with any other US carrier that I can recall. I know Northwest, TWA, United & US Airways did not operate them, and I cannot recall if Delta did, (I think they operated the A310).

The 757 is still going strong worldwide, the 717 did not have a long production run, and the SAAB turboprops....cant really see them as classics.

I would imagine an airliner being called classic would mean a newer version is being produced, such as the 737 When the 737NG series is the current model in production, the 737-200/300/400/500 is referred to as the classic model. likewise the 747-100/200/300 is called the classic. I would imagine Airbus will refer to the current A320 series aircraft as classics once the A320NEO starts production.

The DC8, 727 and 757 are certainly classics in their own right are not in the sense there is no newer/updated version in production.

I would argue 'classic' is just a term tossed around while feeling nostalgic.

I always looked at it as meaning that most of its type no longer fly's 737 100/200 - L-1011 - 727 - A-300 - 747-100/200/300 - DC-9 but that is my take. I would never consider a 757 a classic.