The late eighties (I think '89) was when Hunter began the .5 series, most of them and definitely the 37.5 were called "Legend". They are a very different boat from the previous models lacking the extra six inches and the .5 in their moniker. The Legends had fractional rigs instead of masthead, more modern interiors, swim platforms at the transom, broader beam carried further aft, and many other differences. Spend some time on Yachtworld.com and figure out which series you are interested in.
Scott Nielsen is right on in saying the the 37.5 is a very fast and comfortable boat. There were significant changes to the deck and interior in '92, you should check those out, too. I love my 1995 37.5, it's perfect for my mix of racing and cruising, and I too can beat boats significantly larger regularly. It's solid and well-constructed. The 37.5, particularly after '92, has an incredibly spacious aft cabin, but this comes at the expense of cockpit locker space which is where I would think most people would want to put a generator. How about wind, solar, and/or hydro power?
If you want to see my boat just message me. It's on the Atlantic-facing shore of Nassau County, Long Island, NY, 2o-25 miles or so east of NYC.