Police said the crash, involving a white curtain-sided lorry and an orange Daewoo Matiz, happened in Sea Road South just before 05:00 BST.
Police said the car driver who died at the scene was a 75-year-old man from Torquay.
The A35 was closed in both directions between the B3157 and the A3066 with diversions through Bridport.
Officers have appealed for any witnesses who saw the crash or the vehicles travelling beforehand to contact them.
A motorist has died when his car was in collision with a lorry on the A35 in Dorset.