Yeah, it looks like cast iron but that can be sealed. The displacement to LWL ratio is rather impressive. My thinking is that one of these with an updated sail plan would do really well. Kinda cramped for cruising though. But then, even a J24 doesn't have drinking headroom.
Another small boat that used to do well but has disappeared off the charts is the Ranger 23. No one seems to race these smaller boats any longer - or perhaps the age group that used to race them has migrated to the small sport boats.
Anyone have any better feel than me for who's racing what boats these days?