External timber but not teak?

[Jerbro]

Confession!! This is for my Morris Minor Traveller rather than my boat! but there are more timber experts here than on the car forum!
Ash has been used in timber coach built cars for years, my old Triumph Roadster and Riley RME used it on many frames, it was cheap, workable and readily available!
Its not cheap any more ( £1500 for a new Minor timber set!) nor do the exposed Minor timbers weather very well!
My latest project may become a pickup but like the Traveller it still needs a strong timber rear frame for structural strength.
I propose to use Plywood, which may be painted but require some 'nice looking' timber for the posts and side capping's.
Can anyone suggest an alternative to teak which will survive our climate but still look good. To be honest I have varnished small areas of teak in the UK and it has weathered OK
so its not entirely a no no. ( our boats in the med and varnish was hopeless !) Any ideas please?

Rhodesian Teak

 

[bluerm166]

Original woodwork on traveller is ash.
I rebuilt our frame ( most of it ) in green ash - actually it has a pink tinge when first cut - these days I would consider Iroko.